Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2)(70)

He can’t enjoy the first time he’s shapeshifted an inanimate object so quickly; he can’t be proud of himself because he’s so miserable. He doesn’t know how he’s going to get out of this, or whether his friends are okay.

Worse than anything else, all over the country, every household that has one of the new MonRobots is in danger. How many unsuspecting people have robots just waiting for the chance to attack?

Bells never imagined when he got his powers that one day he’d be cold and miserable and on the run—the most wanted villain in the country. Everything seemed so different then, so filled with hope. He envisioned a glimmering future where crowds would cheer for him, comic books would be written about him, and he would inspire people to do good. He’d thought he’d be a hero.

I am a hero. They just don’t know it.

The rain doesn’t show any sign of letting up; if anything, the storm seems to be getting worse. Thunder roars in the distance, and the water in the streambed is rising. Bells shivers. His stomach growls, and his eyelids are drooping, but he can’t fall asleep. Otherwise, he’ll lose the shift, and the robots will find him.

It’s going to be a long night.

He knew Chameleon was wanted. But Bells had never been worried; he’d been safe, safe behind his secrets, his family’s protections. Bells wanted Chameleon to be the hero people thought of when they needed help, someone who could fight for justice. But to hear scores of robots demanding he surrender, saying his name over and over again—his hero name in that cold mechanical tone—it’s not right, it’s not fair—and Bells is tired of it.

Waiting is the worst part, but finally the last of the MonRobots disappears into the distance. Bells extricates himself from his filthy hideaway and runs back to his motorcycle. If the newly upgraded robots are going rogue, everyone who has one is in danger. Good thing the update isn’t public yet…

Wait.

Emma.





Ch. 13...





Bells’ motorcycle barely has enough charge to make it back to town, let alone all the way to Emma’s house in Andover Heights. It dies, spluttering and stalling, and Bells scrambles off, then runs the rest of the way.

She doesn’t even blink when Bells launches himself through her bedroom window and gets in a fighting stance, ready for anything.

“Hey,” Emma says, barely looking up from her bed. She hasn’t changed into pajamas yet and is still wearing her favorite sunglasses on top of her head. “I know you think the movie adaptation of The Gentleman Detective is terrible, but it’s always good for a laugh… what are you doing?” She raises her eyebrows at Bells.

“MonRobots, the new ones, they just came after me,” Bells says, walking past Emma to the door. “Did your moms ever open that giant present you guys got from Kingston?”

“They came after you?” Emma follows Bells down the hallway and to the basement door. “No, I think they were planning to send it back unopened, why?”

Bells darts down the basement stairs. Sitting in in the corner is a massive box addressed to Samantha Robledo and Family.

He rips the box open, and sure enough, a rectangular new MonRobot stands there impassively.

Emma gasps. “Okay. It’s not on, and we definitely haven’t charged it, so it’s probably—” The panel flashes to life, and a series of red lights blinks at them.

“Emma Robledo,” it says.

Bells throws his arms in front of Emma. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Kingston probably had everyone in our family programmed in it,” Emma reasons.

“Kingston approved of Captain Orion experimenting on people!” Bells grabs Emma’s hand.

Hovering above the floor, the robot advances toward them.

“I don’t think your MonRobot wants to vacuum!”

“Emma Robledo,” the robot repeats. “Daughter of Councilmember Samantha Robledo. Class Five threat. Objective: Detain.”

“What? That isn’t in your— You’re a chorebot!” Emma says.

Two panels on the robot’s sides swivel open, and arms unfold. Bells has seen the various types of arms robots have—vacuum cleaners, brooms, and so on. The ones at the Broussard’s restaurant have cooking utensils.

These arms look like prongs, and a sizzle of electricity pops between the tines.

“Emma, let’s go!” Bells grabs her hand and darts out the door. The MonRobot starts after them. Bells slams the door shut and shoves a table in front of it. Will it hold?

Thump. Thump.

They dash down the long hallway to the exit, and Bells turns to look at the still intact door. Emma exhales, trying to catch her breath. “Why am I a Class Five threat? I haven’t done anything. I’m not even a meta-human like you—”

“I don’t know!”

Emma shrieks and points at the door; the wood around the doorknob glows as a line of fire laces through it, and then the doorknob falls off. A long arm protrudes through it, finds the table obstruction, and then—

SMASH.

The MonRobot crashes through the door, rumbling as it chases them.

“Come on!” Bells says, throwing open the front door. He doesn’t bother closing it.

Emma waves her DED frantically, and the car hums to life. Doors click open. It’s still filled with all their luggage; they haven’t unpacked from their trip. They scramble into the car.