Velveteen vs. the Junior Super Patriots Read Online Free PDF Page A

some neat powers, and I think the Candy sisters would be a total asset to the team.” Hastily, he added, “Oh, and The Loch. I mean, when was the last time we saw a power set like that?”
    “Action Dude always does that,” said Cyndi conspiratorially. “He totally spills the winners during the pre-show interview, because they always film it after the contest is over. It’s a little treat for the fans.”
    “No, they don’t,” said Velma numbly. Her fingers were locked so tightly on the coffee cups she’d been collecting that she couldn’t really feel them anymore. Gangrene. That would be a change. “The interviews are filmed before the show.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I have to take my break now,” Velma said hurriedly. Turning, she shoved the coffee cups at a surprised Cyndi, and then bolted for the back room, hoping that she could make it before she broke down crying.
    She almost succeeded.
    *
    Seven years ago . . .
    They’d just finished battling Dr. Dodo, a mad scientist bent on returning the planet to its pristine, pre-pollution condition. A goal which seemed to involve cloning vast numbers of previously extinct animals and unleashing them on unsuspecting population centers. It seemed sort of inefficient to Velveteen—messy, too—but since she wasn’t the supervillain, she supposed she didn’t get a vote. Anyway, they’d come through mostly uninjured, at least in part because Velveteen’s powers extended to animating the robot dinosaurs from the local science museum and sending them out to smash some saber tooth skulls.
    “You shouldn’t let Yelena get to you,” he said, standing between Velveteen and the door with his arms crossed. Some one who didn’t know them might have thought he was holding her against her will. Someone who knew them at all would have realized the truth: he was protecting her from whatever was on the other side, ready to play living wall if it was required. “She just does it to upset you.”
    “She does a good job,” muttered Velveteen, wiping viciously at the tears that had managed to escape beneath her brown velvet domino mask. “I shouldn’t be here anyway. I’m not a real hero.”
    “You’re hero enough for me,” said Action Dude. Putting a finger beneath her chin, he raised her head, leaning toward her. Velveteen closed her eyes, leaning toward him in turn, and—
    *
    “I thought that was you,” said Cyndi, shattering Velma’s flashback into a thousand pieces. Startled, Velma turned toward her, blinking. The manager was standing in the break room doorway, almost echoing Action Dude’s pose from all those years ago. “I had the poster when you were still with the team. It hung right over my bed. So I thought that was you.”
    Shit , thought Velma. “What do you mean, Cyndi?”
    “Do you have any idea how much free wireless I could provide to our customers with what the tabloids will give me for pictures of you? I mean, the Super Channel has a reward out! They’ve done six ‘where are they now’ specials begging for any word on your secret identity.” Cyndi smiled. Velma wondered how she could ever have thought this woman was guileless. “You’ll totally be able to get your car fixed after this. It’s going to be awesome.”
    “I think you’re mistaking me for somebody else.”
    “I think you’re mistaking me for an idiot.”
    Velma took a deep breath, finally forcing a smile. “Okay, you got me. Just . . . can we talk about this maybe? After we get off shift?”
    “Sure. As long as you’re not thinking this is a chance to run for the hills, since you’re on the store’s CCTV, and that would just mean I didn’t have to share the profits.” Cyndi glanced at the clock. “It’s time to start preparing for the Midnight Bean Society, anyway. We’ll talk after.”
    Granted a temporary stay of execution, Velma followed Cyndi out of the room.
    *
    The coffee for the Midnight Bean Society didn’t look like any coffee Velma had