Checking her terminal, she saw some of the typical commands she was able to use grayed out. That’s irritating. A few minutes of rerouting later, she had reestablished her customary access. But someone had put blocks on the system, limiting access to certain searches and restricting what could be accessed across the board.
She couldn’t tell where it originated, but it was high enough up to be put in place across all supers. A few more minutes of modifications ensured that her station would report to the powers that be that she was still on “limited access.”
Now this was interesting. Was this from something internal, or an external source? Either way, it was a mystery to solve.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Alone Again (Naturally)
Was it stupid to go after Mengele alone? You betcha. But instead of feeling a burning desire for vengeance, he just felt like this guy had to be stopped. He had stopped moving and he was indeed in South Africa.
Hopefully his mother would recover, but from what he had seen in Hinansho, there was no way this should be allowed to go on. If he could take this guy out, then at least other families wouldn’t be affected by this predator.
Following Aurora’s tracker, he could pursue Mengele to whatever hole he was hiding in, up until he disappeared without a trace again. If Mengele made it to another sanctuary city, he knew the tracker wouldn’t penetrate and he would be lost.
Gus figured that when he got there, he should be able to impersonate someone with his Mimic ability to get close to Mengele and end him. The whole plan sounded ludicrous, even to him. It was basically suicide. Throwing his life away for very little reward other than ridding the world of an evil mind.
But maybe that would be enough. He would finally have left a mark that would leave the world a better place than he had found it. If he could do that, then the powers he had been given weren’t wasted. He just hoped he had time before he couldn’t function and had a total mental breakdown.
Checking his FP, Gus found a small flying transport called a skip-jump and paid the FP price to unlock their use, upgrading its power supply to include solar converters. It was basically an enclosed one-man craft, and it would take almost seventeen hours to reach Mengele.
Gus stopped by the cafeteria to restock his gels with the intent of loading his dimensional pockets to the brim. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the ring he had taken from the super he had inadvertently killed just a little while ago. He had already forgotten about that incident, and that fact bothered him. What am I becoming?
Shaking his head and sighing, he took a closer look at the ring’s details. It was fashioned to look like a skull, with rubies in the eye sockets. A little gruesome, but it captured his morbid curiosity as he turned it back and forth in his hands. Why not? It would be a good reminder of what could happen if he wasn’t careful. He couldn’t let himself forget so casually that actions have consequences.
Gus slid the ring on his finger and looked at it from different angles. The rubies caught a glint of light and pulsed for a moment. The ring felt perfectly sized. There was a brief pinch and a message popped up on his display.
XXX’s Ring of Regeneration
By donning this artifact, you have bonded to it. This ring cannot be removed until your death.
Effects: Doubled health regeneration rate, bonded artifact.
Testing if he could remove it, Gus gave the ring a tug and yelped in pain. Taking a closer look, hairlike fibers extended from the inside of the band, embedding into his skin. Pulling harder, he felt them split the skin like tiny strips of razor-wire tugging on the bones underneath that they were anchored to. Not just bones in his hand, but he even felt the strain in his forearm.
How far do these little root-like threads extend? Does it matter? He didn’t intend on removing it, and faster health regeneration was always a good thing. With a little shame, Gus realized he had already forgotten the super’s name. This would be a good indicator to center himself on what he was really trying to accomplish, and what he needed to avoid.
He changed into another uniform, leaving his regular clothes in his room. He checked his abilities and noted Wreckord.
Wreckord (Level 3): Everyone marches to the beat of their own drum, but you use this to your advantage! When you songify your life in apropos ways, you will get a bonus to stats. Bonus depends on the aptness of your choice and stats relevant to the situation. Rock on!
Note: Each song can only be used once for effect. Unlike most abilities, as you increase in your personal level, this ability loses its potency. Use this ability wisely.
For levels 20-30:
Multiplier Progression: Additive.
Cooldown: 24 hours.
Dang. That ability had really taken a drop in its boosting power. After he hit level 30, it was doubtful that it would even do much of anything. Gus created a playlist, including any song that he had ever liked that he hadn’t used yet.
Go big or go home, right?
When he had finished, he couldn’t think of any other excuses for waiting, so he climbed into the skip-jump, finding a way to position Jet to fit in the small space.
“Mponpeng Mine, here I come,” Gus murmured as he engaged the autopilot. The ship lifted off the landing site almost silently, slowly rotating, then it shot off in a straight line. The panel to Gus’ left polarized on its own to reduce the glare of the sun and Gus started his playlist. This time he hadn’t really organized them into any rational order, just put everything in and hit shuffle.
You have created a song chain! Success with activities related to musical themes increased by factorial multiplier based on quantity of songs in series. Song chains have a cooldown of 24 hrs through host levels 20-30.
Crystalize by Lindsay Stirling. Song Chain Anchor.
Dubstep. No—violin dubstep! Always good to get him in a good mood, even though his friends razzed him about it. Time to kick some ass! As he sped off, the island faded to a blip on the horizon.
Prime stood outside the impressive house, looking up at the long walk to the front door. She wasn’t going back to the Faction. Whether she wanted to or not, that aspect of her life was changed. But it took away the biggest obstacle to seeing her daughter again. With nothing to threaten her, they couldn’t do anything to her anymore. She could begin to rebuild a normal connection with her daughter.
She rang the doorbell and it was answered shortly by an elderly gentleman, his lips permanently held in a frowning expression of disdain. “Oh, it’s you…”
“Eldon, get Harlan or Elaine. I need to speak with them.”
“Do you have an app—”
“GET. THEM. NOW,” Prime said in a tone that brooked no argument. His eyes flashed wide and he scuttled back inside the house. She could hear a heated exchange occur inside, then Elaine’s irritated voice:
“Fine! I’ll deal with it. Like I always have to…”
Elaine threw the door open, obviously just waking up even though it was well past 10 AM.
Prime had never seen her without makeup before, and the woman definitely needed it. Her eyebrows were practically non-existent and her skin looked plastic and paper thin. Hair extensions were clearly visible in her thin, unkempt hair. Her eyes appeared excessively tiny and sunken as well, though they glared in irritation at seeing her nemesis there. Eldon must not have told her who was at the door, or she probably wouldn’t have answered.
“According to our court-ordered agreement, I am here to exercise my parental visitation rights,” Prime stated resolutely.
Elaine just opened her mouth like a fish out of water, exasperated until her shrill voice finally found its footing. “You think you can just come in here and take Madeline? No! You have to make arrangements. This is all highly irregular, and we can’t disturb her schedule. You will have to come back another day when she is prepared—”
“Elaine, just stop.” Prime raised her hand, her curved nails extending as she flexed her forearm. “You and I both know that you and Harlan h
ave not kept your end of the bargain as it pertains to visitation rights.”
“Maybe I need to make a phone call then, hmm?” Elaine said offhandedly, fishing out her Flik phone from her baggy pink robe. She fumbled to find it, then peered back at Prime in challenge.
That tactic had worked in the past, but no more. She was free! This woman couldn’t hurt her anymore. She saw the crow’s feet on the woman’s face, and took in the wrinkles that appeared on her forehead as the threat fell flat.
“Don’t think I won’t call,” she faltered, as Prime just waited and stared.
“Please do.”
“You think I’m bluffing, don’t you? Well, this is out of my hands now.” She put the phone to her ear. “Yes, I’d like to speak with someone in management. I have to report something about someone working for you.”
Prime just stood there, totally calm.
“Yes, the super working for you named Prime has been harboring a secret. She’s really a hybrid and hides her identity.” Elaine stared back, pursing her lips. Eyes accusing Prime, you made me do this!
Still Prime stood there, unflappable.
“You really don’t know anyone at Purple Faction, do you?” she said softly to Elaine who held out a finger, demanding she not be interrupted.
“Yes, I’ll tell her,” a smug smile plastered on her ugly face as she slid the phone back into her pocket.
“They’re sending someone to detain you, so you had better get out of here—”
“Just stop.”
“If you want to be taken into custody, that’s your business,” she turned and tried to retreat inside the door. Prime’s hand shot out and kept the door open.
“One thing you may not know. See these cute pink ears? They have enhanced hearing, Elaine. I know you just pretended to make that call. You weren’t talking to anyone. And to think all this time you were talking out of your ass.” Prime shook her head in disbelief. “How much wasted time…”
“When Harlan hears about this…”
“That coward?” Prime’s voice turned predatory. “Let him try. When I report how you two have obstructed me from having regular visits with my daughter, I’m sure they might rearrange the current arrangements to be more in my favor. Be my guest. I welcome any chance to sort out this… situation that you’ve both created.”
“B-b-but you have virtual visitation rights anytime,” she said weakly.
“Which you and Harlan limit or outright lie about when you say she’s not available.” Prime tapped an ear. “Remember, enhanced hearing. You think I couldn’t hear Maddy asking in the background, ‘Who’s on the vid?’ Any mother knows the sound of her child. Even in a crowd. Especially a mother who is being kept away from them.” Prime leaned in close with feral intensity in her eyes. “And that stops now. From here on out, expect to see a lot more of me.” She reached out a finger to push Elaine’s chest but stopped just short, seeing the glint of her razor-sharp nail fully extended.
Elaine looked down her bulbous nose at the tip of her finger, eyes wide in alarm then squinting. “You think you can come to my house and threaten me?” Elaine leaned forward until the claws tip pushed into her skin, dimpling the over-freckled flesh there.
“Oh, it’s not a threat. It’s a promise. And if you doubt anything I can do, just ask Harlan, he’ll let you know what I’m capable of. I’m not with Purple Faction anymore, so the choke collar is off, and you don’t want to know what happens when you try to grab a tiger by the tail.” She punctuated her last statement with a guttural growl that sounded fiercer than even she expected. The smile that stole across her face like a Cheshire Cat had its intended effect as the color drained from Elaine’s face.
A sudden realization made Elaine’s face gain a semblance of control. “You have to have an established residence. Can’t have custody of a child without one. I don’t know why you’re not with Purple Faction anymore, but if you’re not staying there, then I can’t in good conscience let Maddy roam the streets. I’m sure you understand.” She folded her arms, as if the argument was done.
“Oh, don’t worry about my accommodations. I have a place better than this… hovel. Now if you will fetch Maddy, and tell her to pack her things, I will have her back to you in two weeks, as per the agreement.”
“That’s not going to happen, Prime,” Elaine retorted, spitting the words as if they were a foul-tasting poison.
Prime raised an eyebrow. “Then you are in breach. Expect to hear from my lawyers. Good day.”
Gravel crunched underfoot as Prime did an about face and walked down the drive. Claws fully flexed as she tried to swallow down the pure rage she was feeling and keep it under control.
“And it’s Sanura now, Prime is dead!” she called over her shoulder, not looking back.
Elaine began sputtering curses and threats behind her back but they couldn’t touch her. She was finally free of this woman’s influence. She had been lying about having a place, but maybe Gus would let her use the manor as a place of residence. They had bonded a little bit at the hospital, right?
He was a good kid, a little young and inexperienced, but he had a good heart. She hoped he would; Elaine was right, not having a suitable residence might throw her plans to reconnect with Maddy. She needed to talk to Gus. And a lawyer.
Gus hovered over the coordinates and slowly set down. This was definitely the place. He could see miners milling about on the ground.
The Oracle’s voice echoed back to him. Seek earth, or something along those lines. He had done some research along the way and found out a bit about why Mengele might have chosen this spot. It turned out that this mine was deep. Deep enough to evade detection from satellite scans or probes with abilities. This mine generated a lot of things, but gold was its primary export. The enormous hole looked like a gigantic screw had been removed from the earth, a threadlike shelf spiraling inward.
Giant trucks were exiting the mine, carrying large loads of dirt probably meant for processing.
Gus saw workers finishing up for the day as twilight began to darken the sky.
He didn’t know if they worked in shifts or just during the day, but there was a lull in the traffic as stars began to speckle the sky. The tracker led Gus to a nearby hanger installation and Mengele’s ship was inside, with the door open and no apparent security. Beside it was a lift requiring a password to access. He activated Electric Mind and he found the password after sifting through some data.
While he began to feel more comfortable climate-wise, he was punished with a couple turns of the vice as his headache leveled up into pre-migraine pain levels. He summoned the lift and there was the squeaky whine of chains as the machinery came to life.
After a long wait, the lift finally emerged. It was basically an open platform, loosely caged in. And it was immense inside. The bucket could have held four Humvees, and Gus’s feet echoed on the metal floor as he walked in. He activated the lift and began the descent. The temperature began to increase as he descended, and he had to activate Energy Absorption as the temperature began to get hot enough to make him sweat. How do people work in this heat?
He would be glad when he could finally be free from pain. Not that fighting Mengele would make his headaches go away, but he figured that this would be more of a kamikaze run.
Getting the job done. One way or another.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Locked Up
“Thank you, BoJack,” Tempest said as they loaded Gwen onto a gurney. BoJack looked haggard, obviously wrung out from using his powers so much to transfer Gwen to the Faction in the first place, only to have to do it once again. Tempest knew it took some of his own vitality to help others, but BoJack never complained. Still, he was more sullen than his usual chipper self, despite the weariness.
BoJack grunted in reply, turning to focus on Gwen. Liberty General was only thirty minutes away and Tempest had arranged transport. The hardest points were transitions. Beads of sweat sprang up on BoJack’s forehead as Gwen was take
n off machine assistance and he had to compensate, pouring MP into his abilities maintaining her vitals.
“Let’s… go,” BoJack choked out, obviously under severe strain, trying not to bite on the blue gels he had chipmunked in his cheeks until he needed them.
They had opted for a medical transport, but the skyways were unusually congested today. Wasn’t that always how it was? Whenever you had to be somewhere in a hurry, that was when traffic was unreasonable, or you had someone in their 120’s traveling at ten miles below the prescribed speed. Even when the vehicles flew their damn selves, some idiots still manually set the speed to slower than normal. It was maddening.
Tempest looked back at BoJack, who was beginning to struggle. Maintaining Gwen had probably taken more out of him than he had let on initially. Was this too big of an ask, too soon?
Come on! Just go, lady! Tempest raged as the transport in front of him hesitated to turn until the flow changed to cross traffic. He tapped his fingers in agitation on the steering yoke. He did not like this feeling that pervaded everything he did lately. Powerlessness. In such a short time frame, he had gone from successfully managing his entire life to everything spiraling out of control.
Hell. Who was he fooling? Things hadn’t been in control since Gwen went away. His relationship with his sons, getting lost in work, and for what? They threw him out like trash, as well as manipulated his son against him. Things were still indeterminate with Gus. He thought they were getting better, but did he expect things to improve overnight?
He was torn. He needed to be there for Gwen, but Gus also needed his time. Damn that Mengele! Tempest wanted to make him pay, but that meant keeping Gus at the manor, away from his mother. And from him as well. Gus really had surprised him, and he wished he could take more credit for the man he was growing into. Why had he trusted Mengele? The thoughts and blame invaded Tempest’s thoughts like an impatient child. Well, obviously I didn’t know who he was. How could he?
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