by Nathan Howe
“I'm not an expert on how powers work. But I'd venture to say that as you fell, your inherent ability triggered. It's different for every Ardent. Some have it from birth. Some a tragic event, like me, others just trigger at a certain age. No one really knows. But yours triggered, and luckily, it saved your life.”
Natalia sighed. “Okay.”
She was happy to be alive. But still wasn't sure if she'd have the courage to go back to school. The whole ordeal frightened her. She worried the students would renew their attacks on her. It was too much to comprehend for her. The thought of being an Ardent, having powers. Then dealing with people who hated her and treated her terribly.
When they arrived at her place, her mom and brother stood on the front porch. They had been crying, Both of their faces were red and puffy, but now held smiles. Natalia rushed from the SUV. She hugged them both. “I'm sorry.”
“Honey.” Her mom held her tight as tears ran down her cheek. She was just happy Natalia was still here. “Don't be.”
Jacob cleared his throat. “I just want to say it's freaking cool that we have an Ardent in the family. Just don't turn into a villain.”
Natalia smiled. “I don't know. It might be fun. I just need to figure out what I'm doing first.”
Natalia remembered that Project P stood silently behind her. She quickly turned and said, “I'm kidding.”
Project P nodded at her mom. “Ma'am. We'll leave you. But we'd like to talk to Natalia soon. Tell her about her options.”
Natalia didn't need time. She knew what she wanted. It was easy. Every kid knew of the training facility the Hero Coalition had. It was in Cynosure. Jacob would be there, and it was away from here. “I want to move to Cynosure.”
“Done,” her mom said.
Project P nodded. “I'll make the arrangements for the training program. New sessions begin in the fall.”
Jacob smiled. “Looks like we'll be hanging out in the big city, sister.”
A weight lifted off Natalia’s chest. Her life would be forever different, but she wouldn't have to stay here. To be forced to relive the last few days. Even though they were bad and, she let things get to her. It helped her. A turning point for her. She'd miss Abby. But moving to a new city, a new life would be great. As long as she didn't end up on a stupid reality show. That was out of the question.
The Assault of Mechajunks
Blazes lined up for morning assignments with her partner Charge. For the most part, Azure City had been calm. Especially compared to Cynosure with the attack from Spector. A blessing something like that hadn't occurred here. Nothing creeped out Blazes more than zombies. That wasn't entirely accurate she wasn't a fan of robots. And even worse people who removed parts of their own body to attach robotics to them. Sure a few members of the coalition were like that but not by choice.
Charge leaned over as Heated read off the patrols. “Sure has been dull here lately,” Charged said.
“I like it,” Blazes said.
“Well, I don't,” Charge replied.
“Okay, everyone. Dismissed,” Heated said. “Blazes, Charge come over here.” Heated, a bulky man, who stood six feet tall. If you asked him, he'd tell you it was over six feet. Blazes respected him. His skin was much like hers and wasn't a Phoenix, as well.
Charge stepped forward. “Sir, you didn't give us a route.”
He tilted his head. “Are you sure? I saw you talking.”
“Only for a second. Not long enough to miss it,” Charge said. She leaned back and glanced at Blazes who shook her head. “We didn't.”
Heated laughed and doubled over. “You two are great. No, you didn't miss it. Charge, you are so easy to scare.”
Charge pouted. She danced lightly on her feet. “What's our patrol today?”
“You have been requested by Shocking and Amaithinar. You are to report to their office in twenty.”
Blazes enjoyed working for them. The last time they’d helped that team, they’d helped end the Gadget King who presently sat in Remnant Heights. Blazes smiled, glad the Gadget King rotted away without his gadgets and robotic suit.
Charges lead the way to the elevators to go to the floor that housed the lieutenants of the coalition. She pressed the button and spun to face Blazes. “Who do you think they are investigating now?”
Blazes shrugged. “We have a few groups around but nothing like the Gadget King.”
“Maybe we are getting put on the Diablo Island team.”
“I hope not,” Blazes stammered out.
“What? We could be the ones who turn the tide.”
“More likely, we are killed like the others. Plus, not likely. Rumors say we are pulling back on that investigation. Focusing more local.”
They rode up in silence. Blazes did wonder what they would be doing. Nothing in Azure City required a full task force, at the moment. She hoped they wouldn't be sent to Cynosure. With all that occurred there recently, she could see the coalition wanting to add more. She dragged her feet as they walked down the hall that housed several officers.
Charge stood erect in front of the door and knocked firm. “Come in,” Shocking's flowery voice sounded from behind the door. Charge opened it and stepped in. Blazes followed her. This was the first time she'd been in any of the offices on the floor. The last time they worked the team, they never made it into any of the offices. The room they walked into held two desks facing each other had a view of downtown Azure City. Shocking's desk was neat and organized, Amaithinar the polar opposite. With Amaithinar being Fey it was to be expected. Almost all Fey were high strung.
Hovering in the air with her tiny Fey wings Amaithinar waved. “Good. Good. You made it.” She spoke so fast Blazes had trouble understanding. She learned long ago how to deal with the Fey. Pretend you understood.
“Hi,” Blazes said.
“Are we going on a secret mission?” Charge asked. She bounced around. She was giddy and excited at the chance to get action.
“You are itching for action,” Shocking said. She stood with her beefy frame and ran her hands through her short hair. “No crazy stuff like that.”
Charge moaned, and her shoulders drooped. “So why are we here?” she asked. The disappointment was thick in her voice.
“You two ever hear of the Mechajunks?”
Oh god. Mechajunks were exactly what Blazes hated. A bunch of people who lost their minds. At least, that is what Blazes figured. They would chop of different parts of their body and attach robotics.
“Yeah,” Charge said. “Didn't think they had much of a presence in the actual city yet.”
Blazes caught the reports of the group building up in the area but hadn't learned they made it to the city yet.
Amaithinar flew over. She hovered keeping her eyes level with Charge. Her short two and a half foot body appeared so fragile. “We have a plan to stop them. To make sure we don't have a repeat of the Gadget King.”
“Okay. What's our role?”
“There have been more sightings of them in the southeastern part of town,” Amaithinar blurted out. “From our intelligence, they have a base of operations in the area. Not big, but still.”
To Blazes, it didn't sound like they needed anything from them. “What do you want us to do?” Blazes asked.
“Find some of the thugs on the street. And locate the hideout,” Shocking said. “Don't care how you do it. Beat it out of them or track them.”
Charge snapped to attention and saluted. “Roger that.” She spun and left the room.
Amaithinar and Shocking smiled. Blazes shook her head. “I like her,” Amaithinar said.
“We'll report back when we have something,” Blazes said and joined Charge out in the hall.
Charge's shoulders hung. “I wanted Diablo Island.”
Blazes rolled her eyes. “Not me. I'm glad we didn't.”
“You keep saying that. Anyway, let's head down and check out a car.”
A short time later, Charge parked the coalition vehicle. Hitting t
he streets on foot was much more productive when you wanted to gather information. Driving around let everyone know Ardent were in the area working for the Hero Coalition. Anybody who didn't want a fight knew to lie low until they passed. That didn't mean there weren't a lot of fools, because there were. It kept the coalition busy enough.
Charge leaped out, “I say we beat it out of them.”
“Color me surprised,” Blazes said. “Who would have thought?”
“Shut it.”
“I guess we can try your way first. But it doesn't feel very heroic.”
“Who said heroes can't beat people up.”
“Pretty sure it's in the rulebook somewhere.”
“Humph.” Charge march away in search of a Mechajunk. Blazes trailed behind, as usual. It's not that Blazes didn't like fighting. Most Ardents enjoyed using their powers, but beating people up wasn't her thing. Though, it's why they worked well together. Charge pushed Blazes, and Blazes tamed Charge.
Shocking had the right area. Didn't take long before they ran into a group of thugs with augmented body parts. This group was mild. A hand turned into a hammer on one. A foot that Blazes wasn't sure what it was supposed to be. Only one of them had a significant part of his body altered, from the elbow down. It appeared interchangeable. Currently, it held a saw blade. Blazes had crazy photos of members. People with legs and arms, parts of their torso, more machine than human. It wasn't super advanced either. The tech ran the body for the most part, not the other way around. Blazes' body tingled, she felt like she was going to vomit. Just the idea of doing that and seeing it in person made her sick.
Charge sprinted into the group turning on her electric shield and activating her fire sword. And again, she didn't wait for Blazes or give her any notice. Typical. Blazes ran behind her several paces unable to keep pace with Charge. By the time Blazes arrived, Charge had several Mechajunks on the ground screaming in pain. Blazes' smiled. Charge enjoyed her job, almost too much. Blazes worried Charge might someday cross the line. The coalition had rules. Charge tip-toed the line as much as possible.
“Charge, you can't do that. How many times have I told you?”
Charge rolled her eyes. “I don't know. I've lost count. When are you going to learn? I'm fine.”
“One of these times you won't be. And it might not be the villain that gets you.”
“Please.”
“Look at these guys. You can't do that.” Several of the Mechajunks laid on the ground bleeding. It wouldn't surprise Blazes if they broke bones or bruised organs. Even internal bleeding. “You aren't supposed to seriously hurt them. Detain. Arrest.”
“You got to be kidding me. These freaks are out to kill.” Freak was an apt description. “Plus, this time, I have Shocking to back me up.”
Blazes groaned. “She didn't say beat to an inch of their life.”
Charge shrugged. “Either way, this one will talk.” She stomped on one that was on the ground next to her. “Won't you?”
“Yes. I'll talk.”
“See. I did my job. While you dilly dallied.”
Blazes nostrils flared, and she curled her lips exposing her teeth. She took a deep breath in. “Fine. I'm calling in the truck for the rest.”
A while later, Shocking and Amaithinar arrived. With the arrest vehicle in tow. Shocking whistled. “You two might want to tone it back some.”
Blazes pointed at Charge. “All her.”
Amaithinar flew around the scene. “She's impressive. I like her.”
“Don't encourage her,” Blazes said. “This one talked. Stated that they kidnaped a Doctor Jessica King. Holding her at an abandoned factory on the north edge of town.”
Shocking nodded. “That name sounds familiar. I can't place it.”
Amaithinar buzzed around. Speaking so fast that Blazes couldn't make out a word of it. Shocking nodded. “I think you're right. That has to be it,” Shocking said.
“Anyone want to clue me in,” Charge said throwing her hands up in frustration.
Amaithinar stopped flying around. She placed both hands on her hips. She flew right to Charge, inches away tilted her head, “Keep up. I'm not talking that fast.”
“Yeah, you are,” Blazes said.
Amaithinar moaned. “Fine. The doctor works for the Hero Coalition. Or more accurately Cynosure Dynamics. She was here on business.”
“Great one of those people. I wonder what the Mechajunks want with her?” Blazes asked.
“Whatever it is. It won't be good,” Shocking said. “Let's get to this place and quick. I'll inform Heated and Inferno.”
Blazes and Charge rushed back to their vehicle. With a member of the coalition missing, it was important, even a fringe member like the doctor. “How could someone like that go missing, and no one know?” Blazes asked.
Charge glanced at her as she drove. “No idea. Total screw up.” She weaved in and out of traffic. She had the sirens blaring, but it did little to help their progress. Many of the people in the city ignored Hero Coalition sirens, unlike the other vehicles that had them. Some even went out of their way to block them. It was a wonder to Blazes. The coalition did nothing but help people. It didn't matter who you were, they'd help. It's why she was here instead of working for some corporation or the government.
Charge slammed the horn. “Get out of the way, punk. Don't you hear the siren, jerk?” She made an obscene jester as they drove by the car.
“Don't think Inferno will like it if he gets another complaint about you.”
“Don't care. I'm clearly on the right. Siren means emergency.”
A mile away from the building, Blazes silenced the siren. They arrived simultaneously with Shocking and Amaithinar. Charge jumped out of the car right as she slammed it into park. “We waiting for more or going in? Say going in. Say it.”
Blazes sighed. They would of course not be waiting for backup. And Charge was going to jump for joy. But that didn't make her enthusiasm right. Amaithinar hovered to them. “We are going in. But you are not in the lead. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Charge said. She readied to rush in. “Wait what?”
“You heard her,” Shocking said. “I'm on point.”
Charge dropped her head, her body slouched. “I'm always in the front.”
“Not today. Not with me,” Shocking said.
It brought a smile to Blazes’ face that someone could put a damper on Charge. It wasn't the first-time Charge had to follow Shocking, but she didn't like it. Charge always had to be the one making the rush. Taking the risk at point. But Shocking was better at taking a beating than Charge. Blazes knew that as did Charge, but she wouldn't want to admit it.
“If you must. Let's find this person.”
With as much stealth as the four could muster, they moved to the building. Shocking in the lead, Charge on her tail, Blazes took up the rear, Amaithinar hovered in front of her. They had no idea how many Mechajunks might be present. Hell, this whole thing could be an ambush. Blazes wiped sweat from her forehead, removing her cowboy hat. Her nerves were on end. She brought her fire as close as possible without actually making fire.
Shocking kicked in the side door to the building. She had both her razor sharp blades out. Her body covered in sparks of electricity. Unlike Charge who relied on her device to give her protection, Shocking's Ardent power did it for her. They were in a way the opposite. Charge's Ardent power let her cause damage, lots of it. As did Blazes. But Shocking's protected her.
Inside a foul stench reached them. “That's awful,” Blazes said.
“Great,” Shocking said. “Smells like we’re too late.”
Death filled the air. Rotting flesh was something that Blazes' would never get used to. They ventured deeper into the building. They met no resistance. The Mechajunks moved on from this location already. Leaving behind their handy work. After navigating a maze of rooms and hallways, they made it to the room that was the source of the stench.
In the center was the lifeless body of Dr. King.
Her body mangled. Covered in burns and cuts. They tortured her. “Monsters,” Blazes said.
“Doesn't even begin to cover it,” Shocking said. She pointed to the left side of the room. Body parts had been piled into the corner. They had used this room to modify themselves. No wonder the whole place made Blazes gag. Her stomach churned even more at the sight. No one in their right mind would chop off a body part and replace it with a mechanical replacement.
“Was Doctor King involved in body modification?” Charge asked.
Amaithinar shook her head. “Nope.”
That seemed odd to Blazes. If she wasn't part of that then why did they have her? And what did they want from her? The room was covered in both gore and high-end equipment. Blazes assumed it was for removing and attaching parts to people. But it could be for other things.
“So, what did she do?” Blazes asked.
“Sonic technology,” Shocking said.
Charge looked around the room. Inspecting the equipment strewn around. She was in her element with this stuff as much as she was rushing to attack thugs. Charge had a way with building things, her shield evidence of that. “From the looks of this stuff, she was working on some sort of bomb.”
Amaithinar stopped in her tracks. “Did you say bomb?”
Charge nodded. “That’s what it looks like. A lot of bits and pieces, I'd use to make one, are here.”
This wasn't going in a good direction. A bomb and not just any bomb but a sonic one. This was beyond Blazes expertise, and she didn't like any of what this might mean. “Tell me she didn't build it.”
Charge rummaged through it more. Pausing, rubbing her chin. “If I had to make a guess. Yes, she did.”
Shocking frowned. “I'm calling it in. Inferno will want to know as soon as possible. We'll get some techs here to confirm. In the meantime, we need to find this bomb. And the new hideout of the Mechajunks.”
After thirty minutes the coalition techs showed up. Many of them were Ardents but didn't have powers that lent to fighting crime. They served better behind the scenes. Most people didn't realize how many Ardents there were. Thinking only of the ones they saw with flashy powers like Shocking and Charge. Blazes enjoyed her part of the coalitions but was thankful they had others to sort through this stuff. She departed to let them do their thing. She'd just get in the way.