Team: Silence

By Kirstin van Dyke

Four new superheroes...
One highly-skilled secret agent...
...are about to find out what it takes — to be a team.

Not everyone can say they defeated an insane weapon smuggler, rescued a friend, and reformed a masked thief during summer break, but Kathy Allen can. And it’s the truth.

The first part of Kathy’s vacation has been unusual, to say the least, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She and her friends Aaron, Robert, and Linda are living a dream as superheroes. Almost.

Even though Kathy and her friends are superhumans - people born with unusual “gifts” - walking through walls, flying, and reading minds is only a part of being a superhero. Now, having formed an uneasy alliance with a man called Silence, who she first knew as her math teacher and then a dangerous enemy, Kathy is about to learn what it really takes to be a hero. And more importantly, what it takes to be a team of superheroes.

How hard could it be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kirstin van Dyke
• Release date: May 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476160818

Kirstin van Dyke

Young adult, sci-fi/fantasy author, Kirstin van Dyke was inspired at age 15 to begin writing "Code Name: Silence". She has always had a fascination with superheroes, superpowers, and has had a lifelong obsession with fantasy and the unknown. It took her three years and nearly ten rewrites before "Code Name: Silence" became the adventure that it is now.Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Kirstin showed an interest in art and writing at a very early age. She started to put together "picture books" when she was four years old, and wrote her first story when she was six. When she was in third grade, one of her illustrated books won third place in OPB's "Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest." Ever since, Kirstin dedicated herself to expanding her writing skills into a career. She taught herself art and writing with various textbooks and then took formal art training and writing classes for three years. She wrote "Code Name: Silence" during that time.While "Code Name: Silence" is Kirstin's first book to go to print, she has written another novel prior to it when she was 12, entitled "The Ghost Wolf." Other novels written after "Code Name: Silence" include the modern fantasy "Amethyst," and a project for November 2011's NaNoWriMo event entitled "My Dad Is a Secret Agent"."Team: Silence" - the sequel to Code Name: Silence" was published in April 2012 and is Kirstin's second book in print.Kirstin lives in Oregon with her family, where she continues to write novels, poems, and short stories. In her free time, she likes to paint, draw, and go trail riding on her horse Romeo. Never lacking for ideas and inspiration, Kirstin's dream is to keep creating stories, and put her imagination in writing for other people to enjoy.

Book preview

TEAM: Silence

Kirstin van Dyke

Fox & Pearl Press

FOX & PEARL PRESS

Originally published in print form in the United States of America by Fox & Pearl Press, 2012

First electronic edition published, 2012

Smashwords edition published by Kirstin van Dyke, 2012

Published in the United States of America by Fox & Pearl Press, 2012

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or places or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright Kirstin van Dyke, 2012

All rights reserved

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author or publisher. Brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews are permitted.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Design by Kirstin van Dyke

Cover art copyright Kirstin van Dyke, 2012

ISBN 978-0-9843400-9-5 (print edition)

www.CodeNameSilence.com

www.foxandpearlpress.com

To Mom and Dad - thank you so much for everything.

To say you were my guiding lights and my source for encouragement and support would be an understatement.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you again to my brothers and sister for all your ideas, input, and criticism. This book would be boring without your help.

To the three of you, with love.

And to a special girl named Delaney.

To all of my friends and fans - this book is for you.

Enjoy the read!

Chapter 1

SILENCE. NORMAN PONDERED THE NAME, the alias—the shadow that was his mask to the public. His code name. He was one of only nine people who knew the name, and who knew that the names Norman Connors and Silence were actually connected. Connected to him.

Why did he choose the code name Silence from a hundred others he could have used? It wasn’t the first time he wondered about that. It also wasn’t the first time he wondered why he decided to sign a contract with the scarred madman who went only by the name Scimitar. The murderous leader of an underground organization who allied himself with thieves, who kept a venomous cobra for company, and who more than once threatened Norman and his children with death.

But Norman already knew why he’d taken the job. Money. It’s always the answer to everything, isn’t it? Norman thought as he continued his trek down the sidewalk. He had always promised himself that if he ever had the money, he would take himself and his children out of this neighborhood. It was as close as one could get to being in Chicago or New York City without being in Illinois or Manhattan. It wasn’t so much the crime rate that bothered Norman as much as it was the overall conditions of that part of the city. Garbage cluttered the pothole-filled streets despite the fact that a rusty dumpster sat in every other alley. Graffiti covered most of the lower walls of the buildings. Bars lined all windows within throwing or climbing distance. The apartments left much to be desired, but the rent was extremely cheap.

Then Norman heard something behind him. He stiffened but kept walking. He listened more closely, walking more steadily to soften his footfalls. This time, he heard three voices behind him. When the voices stopped whispering, three pairs of footsteps started following him. Norman tensed his muscles and started unbuttoning his shirt as he approached the mouth of another alley. It was broad daylight, but he knew better than to think that would stop what was about to happen. The dark afternoon shadows cast by the buildings were just enough to encourage—

Norman spun on his heel and grabbed the wrist that reached for his jean pocket. He twisted the arm and forced his attacker onto the sidewalk. Heavy breathing over his shoulder warned him of someone else behind him. Norman kicked backwards. He felt the connection through his boot and lower leg and heard a pop followed by a yelp of pain. He turned in time to see the young man crash to his knees on the concrete.

Out of the corner of his eye, Norman saw a glint of light coming from a steel blade. He turned toward it and saw a man with a black hoodie pulled low over his face. He was holding a knife.

Norman didn’t have time for threats. Better to just get this over with, he decided, backing up a step as the man advanced. If he has trouble seeing what happened to his cohorts—or doesn’t realize that it can just as easily happen to him—he must be crazy, drunk, or on drugs. Possibly all three. Before his attacker could make any demands, Norman unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled out what was in the sheath under his arm.

The man in the hoodie gaped at the long, curved, clean blade that dwarfed his own by at least two sizes.

Norman held his knife tightly and gestured toward the man with it. Beat it, he growled.

The man dropped his knife and took off in the opposite direction. He ran around the first corner he came to, disappearing from sight.

Norman chuckled. He stomped on the blade of the small knife the man had dropped, breaking it off at the handle. Then he picked up both parts and tossed them in the alley dumpster before he walked away from the other two men, who were still moaning on the sidewalk. He moved to the other side of the street, slipped his knife back in its sheath, and started buttoning up his shirt again while he walked.

I need to get out of this place, he muttered. In the meantime, I can take pride in knowing I’ll be working with people besides myself who are motivated to help solve problems like that. He glanced back at the two men on the sidewalk and chuckled again. Nice try, gentlemen, he said. He saluted them with two fingers before he rounded the next corner.

# # #

Kathy Allen shot for the surface. She broke the liquid barrier between her and the blue sky, and took a breath of air. She brushed the water away from her face and opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw that Linda was still in the same position she’d left her in; sprawled on a lounge chair like a cat, sunbathing.

Hey, Linda! Kathy said.

The 15-year-old girl gasped and her bright green eyes popped open. She closed them again when she realized who it was.

Kathy’s red-brown hair trailed behind her shoulders as she swam to the wall. Aren’t you comin’ in, mate? Her Australian accent thickened at the end of her sentence so she cleared her throat.

Linda crossed her arms and put them under her head. I don’t think so, she said. She moved her feet closer to the end of the lounge chair.

Why not? Kathy asked. Aren’t you hot out there?

Linda turned away from Kathy and sighed. If you don’t mind, I’m just going to soak up some more rays.

Kathy laughed. You’ve been out there almost an hour, Lin! And, in case you haven’t noticed, Aaron left.

Oh? Linda turned back and lazily opened one eye. Where’d he go?

Kathy shrugged and pushed off the wall onto her back. He didn’t say.

Linda moaned and rolled over again. Her blonde, brown-streaked hair fell over her shoulders. I’m not surprised. He never says much, anyway.

Kathy made a face before she started swimming away from the wall. Don’t get burned, Little Miss Sunshine. Linda was only three inches shorter, and a year younger, than Kathy, but the comment was a snappy way to get back at her for making fun of Aaron.

Linda let it slide. She shrugged her shoulders. I won’t. She let one arm hang down to the concrete deck. The pool at her aunt’s condo was small, but just right for a swim during the middle of summer vacation.

Linda groaned when she suddenly felt cooler. Not clouds, she grumbled, not now. She tucked her arms under herself and raised her head. She looked around. The concrete around her was bathed in blinding sunlight. She was the only thing shaded. What in the world? She craned her neck and looked up at the wall in front of her. A silhouetted figure was standing on top of it.

Linda gasped and grabbed her towel to cover her leopard print bikini. She held her breath, trying not to scream when the figure leapt down from the wall. He slowed his fall at the last second and literally floated down to the concrete. He turned around.

Linda’s heartbeat quickened. Her face broke into a wide, open smile.

Hey, Linda, the 16-year-old boy said.

Robert! Linda cried. She leapt off the lounge chair into Robert’s arms.

Whoa! Hey! Robert fell backwards. Lin! Watch it!

Linda shrieked.

Kathy held her breath and shot away from the huge splash that came over her head. When she came up again, she wiped the water out of her eyes.

A leopard’s head burst from the water.

Kathy jumped back.

The leopard yowled in a feline scream, then coughed and wheezed.

Linda, are you all right? Kathy asked, dodging more splashes. The leopard screamed again.

Robert surfaced and shook the water out of his hair. Then he looked at the leopard. Linda! Take it easy!

Linda was already dogpaddling to the edge. With Robert’s help, she hauled herself out, shaking each paw before she set them on the deck. She shook the water off her golden, brown and black spotted fur. Then she sat down. I’m—I’m all wet, she groaned. After licking her right forepaw, she rubbed it over her head. Robert laughed as he pulled himself out. Kathy was right behind him.

Robert wrung the water out of his red shirt and used both hands to brush off his dark hair. Thanks for the welcome home party, he said with a chuckle. He knelt by Linda and gently patted her sleek, wet neck.

Kathy grinned and tossed Robert a towel before she got her own towel and dried her hair. How was the trip, Robert?

It was fun, but lonely. I’m glad I was able to come home early. Did you get my postcard?

Of course we did, Linda said in a voice that wasn’t as high-pitched as usual. She rubbed Robert’s chest with her head and purred loudly. But we really missed you.

It was no fun without you, Kathy added. She wrapped her towel around her waist.

Robert flung his hand at her and water flew onto Kathy’s left cheek. Get out! I know you guys have been having lots of fun. Take this pool party for example. Pretty exciting, right? He stood straight and stretched his back. Hey, you know what would make it more exciting? If Aaron was here!

Kathy narrowed her eyes. Was that a joke?

"Hey, no offense, Kath, but your blond boyfriend is pretty boring."

Kathy sighed. Just because he keeps to himself doesn’t mean he’s boring, she thought. She almost said it aloud, but didn’t. Instead, she said, You just missed him. He left about 10 or 15 minutes ago.

Robert, faking disappointment, snapped his fingers and looked at Linda. "Well, my timing was almost perfect." He winked at her and dropped his towel on her head.

Linda giggled. Then she pounced and knocked Robert flat on her lounge chair. She pinned him to the spot while he laughed.

Dang it, Lin! I just got dry!

Did not! Linda and Kathy said together. Linda smiled, her green eyes shining as bright as her sharp teeth.

Kathy cut her laughter short when she heard someone coming up the steps. Linda! she whispered sharply. Change, quick!

Linda jumped off Robert and started changing back into a 15-year-old girl. Her paws turned into feet and hands, and her skin and bikini took over the fur. The spotted fur on her head grew longer as the spots lengthened into streaks in her silky hair. Linda’s eyes stayed the same—very human—as she gave Robert a quick glance.

Kathy sighed in relief when Robert took the hint and gave Linda a towel. Linda snatched it and wrapped it around her waist, hiding her slowly shrinking tail. Not more than five seconds later, a maintenance man came up to the pool.

Everybody okay up here? he asked. He held a bucket of pool chemicals in one hand and a long skimmer net in the other.

Kathy and Robert exchanged embarrassed smiles.

Everything’s fine, Kathy said. She gestured to Linda. She must’ve gotten spooked by a bee or something. She ignored Linda’s glare.

The man shrugged. Okay. Just askin’.

Kathy grabbed her swim bag and handed Linda hers. Then the three of them started down the stairs.

Sorry I got you wet, Robert, Linda said.

Not a problem, he said. A fast fly around the block can fix that. He raised an eyebrow. Then he was gone, having turned completely invisible. See ya in a sec, his voice said. A strong gust of wind blew back Kathy’s damp hair and she knew that Robert had taken off.

Now that he was gone, she turned to Linda. You sure picked a great time to change.

Linda suddenly looked hurt. Sorry?

Kathy sighed. I didn’t mean it that way, Lin. I just wish that you had better control of your powers.

I try hard. I really do. Sometimes, though I—I can’t help it. It’s been that way practically my whole life. It just happens, especially when I get scared or angry. It’s like when your heart beats faster while you’re running. I can’t control it. Sometimes, I wish I could just turn invisible when it happens—like Robert can.

Kathy was about to reply when she heard Robert land beside her. He turned visible again and Linda yelped.

Sorry, he said. But look! He held out his shirt. All dry. Told ya it wasn’t a problem.

Linda smiled. Then Kathy saw her nose twitch. It didn’t take long for her to know why. A cloud of violet perfume announced the approach of Linda’s aunt. She was smiling under her heavy makeup while her bleach-blonde hair bounced around her shoulders.

Linda! she called musically while waving a pink and black cell phone. Someone’s on the phone for you.

Linda took the phone. Thanks, she said before her aunt walked briskly back to the apartment stairs. Linda put the phone to her ear. Hello?

Robert leaned over and whispered to Kathy. When did she get a phone? I want one.

Kathy rolled her eyes and shrugged. Why? You’d probably just lose it.

No way! I’d guard it with my life!

Kathy smirked. Yeah, right. Then Linda turned to her.

It’s Aaron, she said. He says to come see him at the lab.

What for? Kathy asked.

Linda looked at her phone. I—I don’t know. All he said was to meet him there ASAP. Oh! And he said Robert should bring his suit and helmet.

When Robert chuckled, he sounded nervous. You mean my get-up from Scimitar? he asked. What the heck for? Then he paused. Wait—wait! I just got back! How did Aaron know I’d be here with you guys already?

Kathy smiled and shrugged. Lucky guess?

Robert snorted. Doesn’t his sixth sense bother you just a little bit?

Kathy shrugged again. Not really.

Robert rolled his eyes. Then he turned to Linda. Why does he want my stuff? Does he want to convict me?

Linda giggled. I don’t think so. He just said to bring them. Then he hung up.

What? No ‘welcome back’ from the boss? Just orders? Robert nudged Kathy with his elbow. Told ya he was a lot of fun.

Kathy rolled her eyes again. Come on, Lin. Let’s go to the apartment and change.

I’ll go get my stuff, Robert said. Then I’ll be back. Don’t leave without me.

We’ll be waiting for you, Kathy said.

Robert nodded and waved. Then he turned invisible again and flew off.

Linda sighed before she started climbing the stairs to her apartment. I wish I had the kind of control that he does.

Oh, believe me, Kathy said, "I’ve known him a lot longer than you have. Robert has a lot less control over himself than he’d like to admit. You probably have more control if you put it that way. By the way, I still haven’t told him that Silence is expecting us this afternoon. We’ll go to meet him in the park as soon as we’re finished at the lab."

Wasn’t there a boy with you? a voice said behind her.

Kathy jumped. She turned around and saw the maintenance man. She noticed that he’d been looking at Robert’s bike, which was leaning against a wall. She thought fast. Oh, he’s around somewhere, she said. She leaned over and whispered to Linda after the maintenance man turned away, See what I mean?

Linda smiled. I think Silence has his work cut out for him.

Chapter 2

KATHY AND ROBERT RODE their bikes beside Linda’s pink skateboard. The back streets weren’t crowded but they stayed near the sidewalk anyway. Kathy listened to the rolling and rubbing of the tires on the pavement while blankly watching the road in front of her. I wonder what Aaron wants? she thought. Usually he’d ask to meet us at the park. It’s been our favorite meeting place for the last four years.

Kathy met Aaron and Robert at West Hill Private School when she was twelve. She first met Robert when she bumped into him while he was invisible. Kathy used to think that she was the only superhuman after she discovered her ability to pass through solid objects when she was three. Meeting Robert changed that.

At first, he tried to hide his powers from her. But a week after she met him, and after she showed him that she was also a superhuman, Robert revealed his powers of flight and invisibility, confirming Kathy’s suspicions. Later he told her that she was his best friend. Soon after that, Kathy found out Robert didn’t have any other friends. She also found out why.

Robert was a foster child, having been orphaned since he was only five years old with no immediate family to support him. He’d moved around a lot when he was younger, often staying with a foster family for less than two years because Robert was too hyper for them, in his own words. Because of that, he was reluctant to make new friends, knowing he could have to move again and leave his friends behind. The last thing he needed was more disappointment.

When Kathy first met him, Robert told her he got his entertainment from using his powers to play practical jokes on people in the classroom—students and teachers alike. After they became friends, Robert started to settle down and use his powers less often in public, even though no one ever found out what he was doing. Kathy liked to believe that she was an influence on his better behavior, but she could never know for sure.

Hey, Kathy?

Kathy blinked and looked at Robert.

Why are we goin’ to the lab? The last time we went there, it was when we asked about that robbery Silence pulled.

Kathy shrugged. I’m not sure. But I know what you’re getting at. She chuckled. "I think that robbery—that visit—started a lot for us. You know, as superheroes?"

"Superheroes? Robert moved his bike closer to Kathy’s. Sure, we fought a couple villains and a few goons, but—"

—and rescued you, Linda said from behind.

Robert rolled his eyes and sighed. "And that."

"And we have superhero names!" she added again.

Yeah. Anyway, Robert said over Linda’s zigzagging skateboard, "does that make us superheroes?"

I don’t see why not, Kathy said. As far as I’m concerned, our first job was reforming Silence. You told me yourself that he said he’s one of the ‘good guys’ now.

"Hey. I know he wasn’t exactly happy about working for Scimitar, but that’s not my point! Robert took both hands off the handlebars. There’s so much we’re missing!"

Kathy tilted her head and forgot to hide her accent. I don’t follow you.

Robert sighed and put his hands back on the handlebars. We don’t have costumes. We don’t have a secret HQ. Heck, we don’t even have a name for our group! He paused and took a breath. And think about all the other superhumans that could be out there! I mean, really. We didn’t even know about Lin until just a few weeks ago.

It was true. Kathy, Aaron, and Robert only found out about Linda’s shapeshifting powers a few days after she first started coming to the same school. Kathy thought that since she, Robert, and Aaron became friends with Linda, Linda’s confidence in herself and in her powers had improved. Nonetheless, Robert’s comment still caught Kathy off guard.