The OK Team 2 by Nick Place

easily they shook off that rope?’ Cannonball shakes his head. ‘They’ve got to be on S.T.O.M.P.’
    â€˜We don’t know that,’ I yell, but Cannonball’s expression is one I haven’t seen on him before – fear. He hovers and snarls, ‘I’ll teach these S.T.O.M.P.ers what genuine power is. Kyle, make sure you get this! Let’s fire the cannon!’
    Then he karooms down towards the three bad guys, and in one motion swings a huge roundhouse right hand punch, connecting flush on the jaw of a Hardware Gang member.
    The Villain makes a horrible sound, like somebody has let all the air out of him, then falls backwards, landing hard like a sack of spuds. He doesn’t move.
    Everybody stops fighting. Logi-Gal stops lecturing. The upright Hardware Gang members stare in disbelief. Silence descends on the car park. The Gamer creeps over, a couple of electronic sound effects dying behind him, and Torch stands silently, looking at the still form of the fallen Gang member.
    Kyle’s camera clicks.
    â€˜Cannonball, what have you done?’ The Gamer says.
    â€˜That was a big punch for a Category 1 Villain, mate,’ says Torch.
    â€˜They’re on S.T.O.M.P.,’ says Cannonball. He turns to one of the Gang members. ‘Aren’t you?’
    â€˜What are you talking about?’ the kid asks. He doesn’t look much older than us. ‘Why’d you hit Kevin so hard?’
    â€˜Because he was on S.T.O.M.P.,’ says Cannonball nastily. He’s short and stocky and only comes up to the kid’s shoulder, but that’s never bothered Cannonball.
    â€˜What’s S.T.O.M.P.?’
    â€˜Yeah, right . . . As if you don’t know, actor boy. It’s a performance-enhancer that artificially boosts your powers.’
    â€˜I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.’
    â€˜So how did you shake off that rope then?’ Torch asks.
    One of the other Gang members shrugs. ‘Crap knots.’
    The Gamer’s face goes bright red. ‘Actually, I never have been any good at knots. Not called for a lot in gaming situations.’ Bloop .
    The Hardware Gang member still hasn’t moved.
    â€˜I’m calling the AFHT emergency number,’ Logi-Gal says, pulling out her mobile phone. ‘And an ambulance.’
    â€˜He was on S.T.O.M.P.,’ Cannonball says, but his voice is trembling, and he sounds more little boy than Superhero. ‘Logi-Gal, I’m telling you, I was sure they were on S.T.O.M.P. You thought so too, didn’t you, Focus? Kyle, stop taking photos!’

CHAPTER 11
RAMIFICATIONS
    A t school the next day, there is no sign of Frederick Fodder (Cannonball). Simon Fondue (Torch) and I shrug at each other across the classroom when his desk remains empty and at recess, Simon tells me that Frederick’s little sister, Alexandra (Tomorrow Girl) says Frederick is refusing to come out of his room. He was crying for most of the night.
    At lunch, I check over both shoulders to make sure nobody is watching as I log in to my herohints.com email account (Username: hazy_retina. Password: carrot_taco). There’s an email from Logi-Gal: the AFHT reports that the Hardware gang member’s condition is unchanged. Medical Hero Doctor Dazzle is working the case.
    At least he’s not dead, I think, sighing with relief. I log out and clear the browser history and cache, just in case another kid stumbles onto my Hero mail. I wonder what I’d be more embarrassed about – having my alter ego discovered by the library teacher, or having Simon discover I’d supergoogled Cyclone Tracy.
    After school, we go around to Cannonball’s house, still in our school uniforms, and ask if Frederick can come out and play. As though we’re a bunch of nine year olds. His mum looks tired, but says it would be good for Frederick to get some fresh air. It takes more than twenty minutes, but finally a pale