Bones of the Past (Villains' Code Book 2)

by Drew Hayes

  On the other hand, part of her felt bad for the team. This evaluation was going to be harder for them than anyone else, because their collective abilities were that much more powerful. Between Tachyonic’s speed, Agent Quantum’s toughness, and Plasmodia’s raw power, Lodestar would have a lot more juice to wield during their session.

  The five-minute rest was almost over, so Lodestar called out a quick warning, letting the next team know they’d be starting soon. There shouldn’t be a whole lot of teams left; they had to be getting near the end. Once this was done, she’d have a debrief with Quorum to get his impressions—he’d been watching the whole ordeal back at base—then a few hours of patrol, and home to pick up Penelope. Ivan had said he might swing by, as well, so that meant a decent meal she didn’t have to—

  A blast of searing energy tore across the battlefield, on a direct course for Lodestar. Having been lost in thought, she sped up her perception and considered for a moment whether it was appropriate to dodge or take the shot head-on. Once Lodestar realized who was firing, though, the decision became simple. Using speed on par with Tachyonic’s, she zipped aside from Plasmodia’s blast, arriving at the boulder a split second before Presto appeared just above it.

  “Out of the gate, Big Fini—hrrrmphh!” Presto’s declaration of success was cut short as Lodestar’s hand wrapped around the back of his skull before he could lay a finger on their prize.

  “I’m pretty sure you can deal with this, but call if you need help.” Lodestar grabbed Presto by the belt on the back of his costume, her free hand still holding his skull, which was pointed directly up to the open sky. “You’ve got a whip-smart mind under there, so try being less predictable. Also, while teleportation is great, yours is limited to line of sight. So don’t ever let yourself get into a position like this one.”

  With that, Lodestar hurled Presto into the sky, face first. He would eventually manage to spin around, hopefully killing off his momentum and recovering, but this would buy her some time without having to watch for rips in space.

  She could already see Tachyonic racing across the field, with Agent Quantum following behind at a considerable distance. It was time for Lodestar to test the New Science Sentries.

  Chapter 48

  She wasn’t kept waiting long. In under ten minutes, Wade called for her, and Dolores ushered Tori into an office with aspirations of being a museum. All along the walls were famous designs and inventions from great minds through history. Some were from the pre-meta creators—Tori spotted a Da Vinci diagram in a proud place of honor among the displays. There were also stranger, clearly meta bits: harder to identify, unless one was the sort of person who knew which meta first discovered and broke the Althusiam temporal limits. Wade had even displayed a pile of ashes labeled “Edison Contracts.” Apparently, he held history’s great credit-thief in the same regard as most educated inventors. Tori could identify nearly every piece displayed in the huge office; she might be a woman of few passions, but this was definitely one of them.

  In the center of the room sat the man whose own creations outshone the displays by orders of magnitude. What Wade had built could have quite literally changed the world. Part of this meeting was to find out why it was that he hadn’t, in fact, done just that. Tori was smart enough to clock that there had been several great meta-geniuses through the decades, some on the side of capes, some on the side of villains, yet the amount of technology available to the public remained steady: a slow, gradual increase like one would expect in normal development, with only a few errant spikes. That couldn’t be a coincidence, and much like the guild’s code, Tori needed to know the rules before she started playing the game. Not because she necessarily planned to abide by them, but because it was important to know where the lines were. Breaking rules worked best when it was intentional, not due to ignorance.

  “Tori, a pleasure to see you,” Wade greeted her. He rose from his desk to shake her hand, then settled immediately back into his lush chair. She took one of the pair in front of his desk while Wade continued. “The room is fortified, secured, and warded, so feel free to speak plainly. In these walls, I keep a tight schedule; we don’t have time for double-talk. Now then, Ivan said you wanted to consult with Indigo Technologies on something. I’m going to be straightforward: I took this meeting out of courtesy and respect, but understand that it is very unlikely I’m going to bring something from that world into this one. Splitting them apart is how I protect both.”

  Concise, informative, and bluntly honest; it was so nice to be dealing with a fellow science-minded colleague. Much faster than playing the societal games of small talk and niceties.

  Reaching into her bag, Tori produced a small vial of green liquid, a small circular device, and a stack of pages covered in scrawling and sketches. “Go ahead and look over the specs while I explain. You’ll be able to figure them out quickly.” Making sure she had everything set out, Tori started on the pitch she may or may not have rehearsed a few times in the mirror that morning. “I’ve been thinking about what to do with my newfound sense of celebrity. There’s no getting around it, not for some time, and while I was originally tempted to hole up and hope it faded, I’ve been considering another tactic. One to make use of the attention.”

  Wade’s face creased in momentary confusion as he flipped through the pages, then vanished as he found whatever detail had eluded him. Tori kept on going, sure that he was still taking in every word. “I’ve made no bones about what my long-term goals are. I want to build my own company, turn my designs into reality. For a long time, that was it—I just knew I wanted that place to exist. But now, I think I’m starting to see the shape of it: a market I can serve, a need I can fill, and a way to leverage all this bad luck into exactly the right launching platform.”

  After one last scan, Wade put the pages down. “The device is interesting, though not especially groundbreaking in complexity. I find the compound you intend to fill it with far more fascinating, if it works as described. But what I find most interesting of all is that you’ve brought me such a proposal in the first place. Miss Rivas, outside of Ivan, there is likely no one in the guild who is more familiar with your past than me, so I am keenly aware of the lengths you’ve gone to avoid putting your work or trust in the hands of other people. To have you suddenly show up, asking for what I’m assuming to be help, if not outright partnership, is a tad confusing.”

  He wasn’t wrong. Tori’s entire history was essentially example after example of fucking herself out of potential opportunities to avoid situations almost exactly like this one: handing off her work to a huge corporation to do whatever they pleased. Even now, the notion riled up part of her, causing a brief churn in her stomach. Thankfully, because it was such an obvious point, Tori had come prepared with an answer.

  “Part of it is me learning from the guild. If I truly took nothing else from my education, I saw that even the most powerful metas need people they trust to lean on. And the guild is also why I’m taking it to you. Frankly, if you were a normal business, this would be a non-starter, but I would hope there’s going to be a level of respect here not present in most business dealings. Past all that, though, you’re right: this is still very hard for me to do. That’s why I brought you the product and pitch that I did. Alone, that’s a neat gadget, one I’m sure you could easily rip off. It’s only when you pair it with me that it becomes a highly marketable asset.”

  Wade lifted an eyebrow. She’d captured his interest. “Explain.”

  In response, Tori’s expression shifted. She wasn’t much of an actor, but she could tap into real feelings well enough. There was no shortage of rage to be had at any moment, a lasting gift from the tragedy of her childhood, yet today, she needed something harder to show. Tori permitted a touch of fear onto her face, along with the rising tide of fury.

  “When those bastards took me off the street, I felt helpless, like many of you out there watching have felt. Self-defense classes, training, awareness: I did everything right,
and I still got snatched. The capes made it in time, sure, but what if they hadn’t? How long are we going to trust our safety to people who might show up, if you’re lucky? I’m tired of feeling helpless. Tired of being afraid. That’s why I’ve partnered with Indigo Technologies to develop the Rivas line of personal defense devices. Non-lethal, unobtrusive tech designed to get you out of danger right away, not force you to wait for when a cape happens to be around.”

  Understanding came swiftly. It wasn’t an especially obtuse concept, especially for a mind like Wade Wyatt’s. He muddled it over for several seconds, lifting up the vial of green liquid and turning it around in his hands. What he was searching for, she had no idea. All Tori could do was wait as he contemplated the proposal.

  “It’s not just the tech, it’s the sales pitch. The capes got caught with their pants down on the civilian side, and as the first public kidnapping in so many years, you have a unique platform to speak on the failings of relying on superheroes. Based on the designs, you’ve got quite a few ways to weave these into compact mirrors, so I take it to mean we’re targeting a predominantly female demographic, which would make your story all the more compelling.”

  “We start with a targeted demographic, then grow it outward,” Tori corrected. “Beginning there will play the best, given what happened to me. Then there’s Beverly’s designs, and the fact that women over forty are currently the audience buying the least Indigo Technologies products. This gets you a way into their pockets and starts building brand loyalty. I didn’t come in here expecting a handout. This strategy opens up doors to a whole new market.”

  “Yes, I see you have quite a developed plan. So developed, in fact, I wonder where it is that I fit in. Your prototype is rough, yet plainly on the right path, and if this compound does as indicated, it will be extremely effective. You have the funds from your museum caper to handle the build, and national attention for free press. What do you need from Indigo?”

  Despite Wade’s assurances, Tori still swept the room, making sure no one was around to overhear them. “Resources would help speed this along while I’m still a hot topic, but more than that, I need guidance. I’ve seen what you can build versus what you release. There’s obviously some sort of unspoken cap on the technology we let out into the world. I kept this one as basic as possible to be safe, but more complex ideas will demand more complex designs. I don’t want to start off with the FBI up my ass because I released some gizmo with a forbidden latch.”

  Wade snickered, hiding it poorly behind his hand.

  “Yes, I’m sure a latch is the device you’d want to squeeze more tech into. You aren’t wrong, Miss Rivas, there are certain checks to ensure humanity doesn’t get tech it isn’t prepared for; however, a fair amount of it is simply the fact that the best inventors also have secret lives. I hold my top work back for the guild, because to release it publicly would make it available to my enemies. Same for Professor Quantum, and Tyranny... I presume.” Wade didn’t look uncertain often, yet at the mention of the mysterious ruler, his brow creased for a flicker of a moment.

  Part of Tori wished Tyranny had greater affiliation with the guild. All she knew of the woman were rumors, admittedly, but they were quite impressive rumors nevertheless: genius inventor who ruled an entire island nation with the strength of her mind and the power of her creations. Were her work more public, Tori might have picked a different inventing idol, but it was Doctor Mechaniacal whose creations were on display for all to see during his criminal enterprises. The same person she was on the verge of partnering with for a project, something Tori was actively working to keep from getting overly excited about.

  Wade soon continued. “Occasionally, some inventor will start dealing matter liquidators out of a van, but they never have the reach or infrastructure to last long, and reverse engineering meta-tech is essentially a discipline in itself, one that very few have mastered. That is to say, it will be some time before you brush against the real technological ceiling; however, you should still give careful thought to the products you create. To steal one of Ivan’s favorite turns of phrase: think of it like you’re baking a cake. Once something goes in the mix, you can’t take it out. Introduce new technology to society, and there’s no undo function. Accidentally wreck an industry or bankrupt a country? Too bad. Whatever happens, you have to live with.”

  “That’s an aspect I’ll weigh seriously moving forward,” Tori replied. “But for today, the design in question, do you see any major issues? The big trick there is the liquid, and good luck to anyone who tries to break that down. We can keep it proprietary. Very limited risk it would enter society at large.”

  “This one works... in theory.” Wade tapped the half-formed prototype, setting down the vial next to it. “I get why you came to me early. You needed to see if I was on board and had feedback about any lines you were crossing. But if we want to do your pitch, you need something in your hand. Something tangible, to show you mean business. While we’ll need to negotiate the details, I’m open to the idea moving forward. The sooner, the better, though. We need the story to be fresh. Get me a working prototype, and we can see where that leads.”

  Tori was so thrilled, she nearly knocked her chair over climbing up to shake his hand. Not only was her idea getting backing, Tori would be receiving help from one of the few other minds she genuinely admired. As she and Wade grasped hands, however, he continued speaking.

  “Once we have that done, you’re going to enroll in business courses. I know some online ones you can squeeze into your spare time. Given your brain, I imagine you’ll be able to clear the coursework at an exceptional rate.”

  She kept on shaking, even as the curious demand hit home. “I’m not saying I won’t—you don’t ask for pointless tasks—but do you mind explaining why?”

  “Happily. First and foremost, if you intend to run a company one day, you should have that education, and potential investors will expect it from someone in such a core leadership role.” He paused, a dark, more Doctor Mechaniacal look sliding across his face. “The other reason is that if we’re working together, I’m going to do my best to make the project a success. In the course of that, it’s entirely possible you might see my leadership techniques, and we want a ready excuse if anyone asks you where some of your more... creative problem-solving tactics come from.” Those brilliant eyes were shining, countless schemes forming in the mind behind them, each waiting for the right chance to be turned loose.

  It had been a long few weeks, with more lows than highs, but standing in Wade’s office, seeing the danger in his eyes, Tori found herself unexpectedly happy about the curious directions her life could often turn.

  Chapter 49

  With Presto momentarily neutralized, Tachyonic was the next impending threat. He tore along the ground, breaking all sorts of rules of the universe to truck along at impossible speeds, all without destroying the environment or himself. She could see it all, since Lodestar was more or less matching his speed perfectly. It took a touch of effort on her part; the kid was fast, at least when he was using his suit accessories for the power boost. It seemed like not many of the other capes had caught on that Tachyonic needed the help, and evidently, he wasn’t going to give the secret away during evaluation. The guy was coming full speed.

  Until, he wasn’t. At the very end of his approach, Tachyonic suddenly skidded to a halt, digging his feet in to send a massive spray of rubble and dirt at Lodestar’s face. It was similar to Hat Trick’s move with the doves, except no one on that team had provided Lodestar with access to super-speed. She didn’t dart back, though, as he was no doubt predicting. Instead, Lodestar went up, directly over the wave of dirt. Behind, a searing blast of plasma tore through the space where she should have been.

  That was impressive. There was no way Plasmodia could track Tachyonic’s movements, so they must have both been counting down to make the attacks line up. This was definitely a team accustomed to working together, and their refined techniques showed it. No
t that it mattered much when Lodestar went an unexpected direction, but adapting was part of a fight. Besides, by this point, she’d flown against every other team. They should have accounted for the possibility.

  Landing in less than a second, Lodestar retook her same position, waiting for Tachyonic to approach. It wasn’t much of a delay. He zoomed in the moment Plasmodia missed, launching a series of blows that were fast, efficient, and well-aimed. Lodestar only dodged a few, letting the rest fall ineffectually on her. “Sorry, you’re going to need to hit harder if you want to beat Agent Quantum’s durability.”

  “Obviously.” With that, Tachyonic hopped back, landing at the side of Agent Quantum, who had just finished an incredibly fast sprint that still left him looking like a slowpoke.

  More or less the same composition as the first team, and many that followed, Lodestar realized. One at range, one to grab, two for melee. Would this have been their move if they’d gone first, or were they mimicking a successful team’s tactics? There was nothing wrong with learning on the fly; however, testing unfamiliar formations often wasn’t worth the tradeoff. Better to stick with what the team could do well.

  On that front, Lodestar realized she might not need to worry, as Agent Quantum and Tachyonic launched a perfectly coordinated attack. Tachyonic went low, aiming for her legs and base, while Agent Quantum stayed high, ready to handle her fists and knock her down if she started to fly. An excellent strategy, with both of them holding near-perfect form. If nothing else, Professor Quantum had taught them to fight. Unfortunately, he’d taught them to fight his way, which was part of why Lodestar expected this evaluation to be especially tough on the New Science Sentries.