Chapter Six: Villains, villains, and more villains!
Jimmy and Peter were sitting on the roof of the warehouse watching the clouds drift by. Jimmy was still angry. Still wanted revenge. But how? Peter was a good friend, big and strong, but not too smart. He wasn’t good at coming up with the plans. Jimmy wished he had a smart friend like Nikki did. Like Spencer Quick, the twerpy little genius.
While Jimmy was wondering where he could find a kid genius, a beam of blinding sunlight burst through a crack in the clouds. Jimmy and Peter raised their hands to shield their eyes. When they felt that the light was no longer in their faces, they rubbed their eyes and blinked a few times, trying to wash away the dark spots that clouded their vision.
They heard a girl’s voice say, “Hiya, fellas.”
Startled, Jimmy rocked backwards, tumbling from his sitting position and onto his back. The concrete roof was hard and bruised his skin. His first thought was that Nikki Powergloves had found his secret hideout. As his vision cleared, he peeked over his knees.
Standing in front of him was a girl, but not Nikki. She was Asian in appearance, with narrow eyes and powdery white skin. She wore a bright yellow skirt with a print of a sun on it. One of her hands was on her hip and the other hung loosely at her side. Despite the fact that she had spoken, Jimmy and Peter just stared at her.
She said, “I’m Naomi.”
Finally, Jimmy found his voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to find you, silly,” she said. “You’re Jimmy Powerboots, aren’t you?”
Jimmy’s head was spinning. She knew who he was? But how? Why would she be looking for him? And how did she appear out of nowhere, just after the sun flashed in their eyes?
As if she had read his mind, Naomi said, “I travel on sunbeams. I get my power from my skirts.” She ran her hand over the picture of the sun on her skirt.
Jimmy understood. She was like him, like Peter, like Nikki. A kid with powers. But was she a friend or foe? He needed to find out.
“Do you know Nikki Powergloves?” Jimmy asked.
“Ha!” Naomi scoffed. “I know of her, but I can’t say we’ve been formally introduced, although I hope to meet her soon.”
Jimmy could tell from her tone of voice that she wasn’t looking to be friends with Nikki. That was good. Maybe she would be his friend. He didn’t have many friends.
Jimmy said, “I can introduce you to her next time I see her.”
“And when will that be?” Naomi asked.
“As soon as we can come up with a plan to crush her.”
“Good. I can help with that. Plans are my specialty.”
Jimmy liked Naomi already. He could tell she was smart. Definitely smarter than Peter, and maybe even smarter than him. She could help him—that much he knew.
“What do you suggest?” Jimmy asked.
The right side of Naomi’s lip turned up and her eyebrows narrowed in a cross between a frown and a smile. “We just need a really strong and powerful attack dog to get her to come out of hiding.”
Peter spoke for the first time. He said, “I’m really strong and powerful.”
Naomi laughed. “How predictable,” she said. “But you’re exactly right, Peter. I was thinking you would make the perfect attack dog. You’ll go to Cragglyville first, and Jimmy and I will be right behind you. How’s that sound?”
Jimmy grinned. “Perfect,” he said.
Peter looked at Jimmy and then at Naomi. “Good…….I think,” he said.
Naomi laughed again. “Don’t think, Peter. Leave the thinking to Jimmy and I. Okay, then it’s agreed. Operation Attack Dog begins immediately.”
Jimmy couldn’t stop grinning. With two other friends, Nikki wouldn’t stand a chance. He would finally be victorious!