by Drew Hayes
Settling into a rough hover, Tori scanned around, isolating two more targets as they flopped out into view. A pair of shots, and both were smoldering pieces of cardboard seconds later. Carefully, keeping a close eye on her stabilizers, Tori brought her suit back down to the ground, coming to a halt roughly ten feet from Ivan. She disengaged the helmet’s latches, popping it off as her body reformed to flesh and bone. “Now that’s a way to start a morning! What did you think?”
“Very impressive.” Ivan didn’t actually sound terribly impressed, though Tori knew that if she was waiting for that to happen, her next invention had better be the world’s comfiest chair. “Your mobility is constantly increasing as you improve the flight systems, and the gravitational distorters have even made you light on your feet. Aim seems accurate, force is adequate, though I notice you didn’t test the major weapons.”
Even without her helmet showing the indicator, Tori could tell her gauntlet was still charged; there was a crackling, static-like energy running along the length of her arm. Crap, that meant she needed to reinforce the shielding before there was a major rupture. That issue would have shown in the charging, though, so it was probably still safe-ish to use. “Wasn’t quite sure what these walls were rated for. Figured Wade had enough on his plate without me cutting a hole in the base.”
“A bit overconfident, though you do make a good point.” Ivan took several steps back, then raised his hands out in front, like he was pushing an invisible wall. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“For mime-work? Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re going to be holding that position for a hell of a long time.”
Ivan sighed with the exhausted resolve that only a parent raising a teen was capable of. “For the fully charged beam. We’re testing all of your suit. That certainly includes your ace in the hole. The walls’ durability can be called into question. Mine is a known quantity, especially when braced. So, as I said, whenever you’re ready.”
There was no reason why Tori’s arm hesitated before shifting into position. Ivan was, so far as she knew, borderline indestructible. Her absolute best efforts might be able to put a scratch or a burn on him, but causing actual damage was currently a pipe dream. All the same, it was momentarily difficult to point her greatest weapon at the man who’d fast become one of the few positive constants in her life, even knowing how silly her fear was.
In that moment, just before she fired, Tori finally understood how Ivan could feel protective over Lodestar, despite how fantastically nonsensical and pointless it was. Whatever the rational brain might know, it didn’t quiet the fearful voice that lived much deeper down, the whispering tone terrified to lose someone its owner cared about.
The beam of energy scorched the air, blazing through the short distance between them in a flash. That was the furthest it went, however. Ivan’s hands, still stretched before him, didn’t just stop the beam, they contained it. It was like he’d hefted some invisible shield, which wasn’t the worst way to describe magical wards, soaking up all the power she’d sent hurtling in his direction.
Finally, when the beam cut out, Ivan waited a few seconds, then lowered his arms. His hands were rubbed against one another, then shaken out, like they’d been slept on and had to be roused from numbness. “I could feel that.”
“What does that mean?” Her gauntlet was smoking—she definitely needed to tweak the shielding before the invasion kicked off. Still, Tori felt the first whispers of pride rising in her chest, wondering if she’d managed something especially impressive.
“Many things. That you’ve increased the power from the last time I took one of these shots by quite a bit. That you’ll be capable of damaging all but the most durable of metas.” A hand landed on the armor of her shoulder, patting her twice. “And it certainly means that, should you choose to enter the fray tomorrow, I won’t have to worry about Hephaestus making it through safely. That villain will have more than enough power to survive.”
Good as the praise made Tori feel, she wasn’t quite sure that survival would be her only goal once the invasion started. The majority of her life had been focused on having no attachments, caring for nothing, so that she couldn’t be hurt by losing it again. For better or worse, the last year had chipped away at that tactic, one friendship at a time. Helen was right. She could keep pretending to not give a shit, but that wouldn’t actually lessen the pain she’d feel to have someone taken away. If she wanted to protect the people she cared for, it was time to have a hard, honest reflection about who those folks really were.
Once she knew, Hephaestus could decide in the moment how to react to whatever the invaders threw at them. Tori might not have much insight into their game plan, but she had a pretty good idea of her own: defend what was hers, and show any dumb sonsabitches who tested Hephaestus why it was never a good idea to try to steal from a villain.
Chapter 101
“Those of you assembled before me, your primary task in the coming event is to maintain peace and stability among Earth’s citizens. When something like this occurs, there will always be those who assume the Alliance of Heroic Champions is too busy to deal with lower-tier crimes. On top of that, some people may give in to genuine panic, taking actions that endanger themselves and those around them. You are going to be out there, en masse, making sure there’s help for anyone who needs it.”
Lodestar floated before the massive assembly, more capes than Cyber Geek had even realized were working at their level. Then again, with the rotating shifts and ways they were spread out, there were plenty of other members he passed like a ship in the night. Plus, the AHC was always adding new members, albeit not in the same flood that had been around when Donald first joined. To his left was Medley, on his right were Hat Trick and Cold Shoulder. They’d arrived that evening as a unit, ready to receive orders for the coming madness.
“In the event that our visitors decide to take the fight to Earth, your focus should be on guiding and protecting civilians. We have more experienced superheroes standing by to deal with an actual invasion force—that’s not where you’ll do the most good. Those of you who’ve gone through evaluation and done well may be tasked with slightly more difficult jobs as needs demand; however, it is highly unlikely we will ask you to get into the fray.”
Her form rotated through the air, working to make eye contact, however fleeting, with each person in the crowd. Neither Professor Quantum nor Quorum were present, not that Cyber Geek had expected them to be around. Given what the planet was facing, it already felt like a waste to have Lodestar here breaking things down. But then, the real trouble was still a sunrise away.
“Should they invade, for most of you, this will be your first experience in anything similar to true war. In the heat of combat, pitted against an enemy with ruthless intentions, you may be forced to make difficult ethical decisions. I can’t tell you how much force is the right amount, or if the final line has to be crossed. The circumstances you’ll be facing will have to inform that decision. Just remember that there are no undo’s in this world. A life that’s taken can never be reclaimed.”
It was a notion that had been sitting heavy in Cyber Geek’s gut ever since he learned about the planet’s current threat. He’d had no issue blasting through a monster that Nexus conjured from another world, but since then, he’d been largely dealing with humans who required a far more gentle touch. Killing an alien was a notion that left him feeling uncomfortable, yet was still something he could imagine. Were it a human, Cyber Geek was fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to go through with it. He really hoped he wouldn’t have to find out if it was in him to kill a sentient being.
“We’re going to be working in rotations, since the chaos this causes will reach well outside the timetable we were given. First teams go out tonight, then back before dawn for some rest and recovery while the secondary teams work. It’ll go like that until we’re in the clear. I can’t promise we won’t hit an all-hands-on-deck situation at some point, so make sure to use yo
ur downtime well. There might only be so much of it.”
“First teams! Find a coordinator and get your starting position assignments. Second teams, hit the beds. You’re up in just a few hours.” This announcement came from one of the many people wearing polos bearing the AHC logo. Support staff were essential to keeping this place running, especially since so many other capes lacked Cyber Geek’s experience with office drudgery, along with his honed planning skills.
The crowd broke into movement instantly; they’d all had enough training to understand that speed was a factor in dangerous situations. By the time he looked back up to the ceiling, Lodestar was gone, zipped off to another of what had to be countless pre-invasion tasks. The polo-wearing staff were moving fast, too, dispatching teams and individuals to patrol areas with blazing efficiency. When his team’s turn came, there wasn’t even a chance to speak.
“Ah, Cyber Geek’s quartet—just one moment, please.” The bespectacled man was slender and meek in a way that reminded Cyber Geek of himself less than a year prior. “Looks like you’re on the home team. You’ll be running patrols in Ridge City. No teleport needed. We’ll route you as the night goes on. For starting off, let’s have you begin near Ridge City Savings and Loan, swing wide around the Alfred Settler Memorial Plaza, then head up to Denny’s Diamond Depot on fourth. By then, you’ll have new directions waiting.”
With their orders received, the team headed toward the main exit, a different direction than the vast majority of their peers, who were all being relocated to various locations. To his surprise, Cyber Geek noticed another group of four heading in the same direction. Waving, he caught the attention of Agent Quantum, who was walking with his own team. The big man returned the gesture, though there was still a bit too much crowd between them for anything verbal.
“At least we’ve got some heavy hitters hanging around,” Medley noted. It was, by Cyber Geek’s estimation, the first real compliment he’d ever paid the New Science Sentries.
“Let’s just hope we don’t need them,” Hat Trick added.
“Because the threats are so weak, or we’re so strong?” Cold Shoulder held up a bicep, perhaps intentionally showing off the results of her own training. Medley and Cyber Geek weren’t the only ones hitting the gym lately.
“Ideally, because no one is in danger at all. I guess I’d settle for them being weak, though, since that would be easier for the average person to deal with.” It was more or less the answer he’d expected from Hat Trick, though that didn’t make her point any less salient.
It wasn’t so long ago he’d been one of the normal humans, and he could still remember how terrifying it was in moments like these, when forces so far beyond anything he could fathom were gathered to determine his—along with the rest of the world’s—fate. Hat Trick was spot on: the best outcome was one where nobody was in danger. Barring that, the next best thing was to make sure that if someone was in trouble, then there would be a superhero nearby to save the day.
“Everyone, grab a snack or some caffeine if you need it. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Mobile, or fortified?” It was a strange question for Beverly to ask at a kitchen table next to bowls of Chloe’s half-burned spaghetti, even with the few empty beers scattered around. Laying in front of Beverly was a rough sketch of the neighborhood, with their building at the center. Based on the assessment they’d done over dinner, it was clear that holding this place during an invasion would be tricky. Like most apartment buildings, it wasn’t designed to resist real assault, only to keep unwanted trespassers out.
“With my hop-skip-and-jump phrase, we could change entire countries as needed. Even if the aliens come, there’s no way they can be everywhere,” Chloe pointed out. “Still a lot of planet to cover.”
Curious as she was about alien tech, Tori had been through one too many close calls lately to find any appeal in flying around, trying to hunt down invaders. Truth be told, in other circumstances she’d likely have holed up in the guild and let the whole ordeal pass, except they couldn’t very well bring Chloe along. She and Beverly had made sure to keep their friend off of both guild and AHC radar, since Chloe wanted to keep her normal life, extremely potent ability and all.
Considering the nature of the threat, mobile was absolutely the safer move. They could pop into some towns in the middle of a flyover state, the sort of place low on any invasion’s target list. Even if they picked wrong, Chloe could give them another shot within seconds. Mobile made them both efficient and safe.
And yet, Tori still felt a hitch in her stomach at the idea of fleeing. Ivan’s house had felt like her first home in a long while, and it had been destroyed—technically by her—during the last of these major catastrophes. This apartment, for all its faults, was hers. She’d chosen it with her friends, declared it to be her home, and even found herself missing it when she was away. Nexus had said it himself: a villain defends what was theirs. What was the point of having power if she was going to let some interstellar assholes push her around and wreck her home?
“I can’t speak for you two, but I don’t like the idea of running off and leaving this place for scavengers or aliens. If we try to stay here, we don’t lose our teleportation option. I propose we start by hunkering down, and then, if it becomes clear there’s no holding the line here, we bail out.”
“Running’s never really been my style, either,” Beverly agreed. Both eyes turned to Chloe, who was the heavier voice to weigh in on this discussion. She had no meta-suit, nor dragon-shifting. Her ability was strong, but strange, and certainly not the kind that could be counted on to keep her safe.
Scooping up two of the spaghetti bowls, Chloe brought them into the kitchen and dropped them on the counter, before returning, albeit not empty-handed. She’d grabbed the pink and black umbrella that always managed to somehow be in the same room or area as Chloe, despite none of them ever seeing it move, or even disappear. Sitting back down, she laid the umbrella down on the table.
“Last time I got involved in meta-human stuff, I accidentally exploded the top half of someone and ended up haunted by their indestructible umbrella. I definitely don’t want to do any fighting again, especially with outcomes like that, but I do have a little protection. I’ll stay with you two until it’s time to leave, and then we get clear. Fair?”
“Can’t reasonably ask for more than that,” Beverly agreed. “I think it’s a good plan. While we’re bracing for a fight, our exit strategy is impeccable. At the worst, we can strike hard, and then retreat.”
“Which brings us to our next question. We’ve got a single night to work with: what sort of defenses can we get in place before then?” Tori paused, looking over the rough diagram once more. “Ideally ones that don’t kill our neighbors or tip off the capes that there’s some sort of diabolical genius sharing the building with them.”
That earned her a raised eyebrow from Beverly. “Isn’t it a bit egotistical to call yourself a diabolical genius?”
“Humility is a virtue, so that shit is for the capes.”
“Touché.” A flash of thought darted through Beverly’s eyes. “Speaking of, should we expect any interference from them? Given that the New Science Sentries are on protective detail around you, they might be sticking close during an invasion.”
Crap. In all the madness of approaching aliens, Tori had forgotten their duty to her. Then again, if aliens ended up attacking the world, there was little chance the New Science Sentries wouldn’t get called to pitch in. No way they’d let a team like that ride the pine guarding one woman and her apartment. It was a thought that felt true, yet didn’t quite reassure her fully.
“Nothing to be done. We have no idea where the AHC will put them, or even if aliens will show up at all, let alone come here specifically. But I think a good rule should be that we stay civilian until the first contact is reported, just in case they check in. An invasion would mean shit hitting the fan, so they’ll have way more on their plate to deal with than me.”
“There’s always—” Chloe was cut off by a burst of sudden, fast knocking on the door, like someone was trying to pound out a rhythm.
Tori rose, putting the pieces together in short order. That sound was really just someone knocking normally, only sped up significantly. Unless the legendary Ricky Rocket had suddenly run back into reality, she had a pretty good hunch who this would be.
Sure enough, the door opened to reveal Tachyonic, looking almost jittery with the way he was fidgeting. Someone must have their speed cranked up substantially. The energy didn’t extend merely to his body, even Tachyonic’s voice came out at an accelerated pace.
“Hey Tori sorry to bother you in a bit of a hurry we’re technically on patrol but I zipped over to let you know the AHC has us patrolling the city so please keep your head down and stay safe since we won’t be next door plus I also snagged an emergency response clicker in case anything happens just hold the button down for five seconds and we’ll get an alert okay gotta get back on patrol bye.”
The words were a flurry, ending in a burst of wind as Tachyonic dashed back out to wherever it was he was actually supposed to be. Resting in Tori’s hand was a small electronic button, like a stylized garage door opener: silver and with a large AHC logo emblazoned across the top. For a moment, she felt dirty, holding a thing like that, but the notion was quickly followed by intrigue. This was something that tapped into the AHC’s communications network. If Professor Quantum had designed it, there would no doubt be safeguards on top of safeguards, but logically, he couldn’t make every single piece of tech the AHC used. Some had to be crafted by other, lesser minds that weren’t so skilled at protecting their creations.