Mod Superhero

Chapter 4.38 - Developments

That Saturday, McGuire had a surprise for them.

Of course, in true McGuire-fashion, he made both Mod and Arsenal wait for the reveal.

Mod and McGuire traversed the rooftops of flooded Eastside while Arsenal flew impatiently after them.

"Come on, we already know what it is!" she called.

McGuire bounded high across a gap with his spring-boots. "Almost there..."

They finally stopped on the roof of a familiar parking garage. McGuire stepped to the edge of the roof and peered over the short wall.

Mod and Arsenal shared a concerned glance. She asked, "He's not gonna... Is he?"

Mod raised his hand to say something, but McGuire suddenly turned.

"I bet you're all wondering why I called you here today..."

He slung his backpack off his shoulder, reached inside, and pulled out a modified snowboard. It almost looked like it had five sets of wheels spaced out along its length, but instead of wheels there were coils of wire and batteries. Stenciled in between where the words EAT MY WAKE in massive letters.

It was McGuire's new hoverboard, in all its crazed glory.

And there was no way it should've fit inside McGuire's backpack.

The gadgeteer stood proudly with the board, expression unreadable behind his mask. "What do you think?"

Mod had seen enough of McGuire's inventions to know that as weird and outrageous as some of them looked, he'd never underestimate any of them.

Arsenal landed beside them with a thud. "Let's see it!"

McGuire whirled around and leapt onto the short wall. He glanced between his new hoverboard and the churning water below.

"...You have tested it, right?" Mod asked.

McGuire hopped back onto the roof. "You know, I should probably do that."

He let go of the hoverboard and it fell over with a thunk.

Before Mod or Arsenal could say anything, McGuire hopped onto it. The hoverboard rose up and caught McGuire—the movement looking as fluid as if he was psychically controlling the board. McGuire wobbled slightly, but after a moment, he was steady and hovering a few inches off the roof.

McGuire eased it forward and began a slow lap around the roof.

Both Mod and Arsenal watched, spellbound. The hoverboard hummed quietly as it built up speed.

Mod asked, "You sure you haven't tried it before this?"

McGuire scoffed. "And where would I have done that, in the shelter?"

Arsenal said, "You're making that look way too easy! Do you have any idea how long it took me to get the hang of my exosuit?"

"What can I say! I'm a natural."

Mod asked, "How are you controlling it?"

"A little with my feet. A little concen—woah!" McGuire's feet slid out from under him. The hoverboard kept going, but McGuire spilled out to the side.

Mod felt like he saw the moment in slow motion. He extended his whip and was able to catch McGuire enough to keep him from landing hard on the roof.

McGuire stood and brushed himself off. "Good catch. Thanks, man."

~

Mod and Arsenal spent the rest of their break keeping close to McGuire as he scooted around the parking garage on his new hoverboard.