by S. J. Delos
I lowered my hands and shrugged. “He’s right, you know. I haven’t had to worry about bullets in years.” I forced a wry smile on my face for the nervous officer. “However, my feelings continue to take painful beatings. I honestly thought my days of being recognized as a villain were behind me.”
Officer Michaels looked from me to Major Freedom and back. He lowered the gun—albeit slower than I preferred—holstering it.
“Sorry, Crush…err Kayo,” he said as he bent down to pick up the tablet from the ground. He glanced at the screen. “You might want to call the EAPF and get your file corrected. It still lists ‘Kaori Hashimoto’ as being uh... you know.”
I nodded. “Crushette. I’ll get that fixed right away.”
Major Freedom cleared his throat. “I can help with that, if you want, Kayo. Having to navigate the EAPF’s bureaucracy dealing with records can be a bit of a nightmare.”
“That’s alright,” I said. “I have a close contact in the EAPF who should be able to get everything straightened out in a flash. I’ll call him as soon as I get checked into my hotel.”
The hero’s golden eyes studied me for a moment. “Hotel?” he asked, before smiling down at me. “Because I seem to recall inviting you to be our guest, Kayo. I hoped that meant you would be staying at the Tower of Justice.”
Staying … at the Tower of Justice? Sleeping where the Justice Brigade slept? I’m not ashamed to admit that I nearly wet myself with excitement.
“I didn’t realize that.”
“You didn’t wonder why I asked you to come up early? I hoped we would get the chance to know the newest hero sensation better.” He tilted his head to the side. “However, if you’d rather stay at your original accommodations…”
“No. No. No!” I said, waving my hands back and forth. I felt like Zip for a moment. “What I mean is, yes.”
His head tilted the other way. “Yes? You’d rather stay at the hotel?”
I shook my head. “No. I mean; I accept the offer,” I said, nodding so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. “I would like to stay with you.” I blinked, holding up a hand again. “I mean, the team. The Justice Brigade. I want to stay where you all stay.”
Seriously? I heard Martin’s voice in my head. Are you actually babbling, my love? I taught you better than that.
The imagined words were like having a bucket of ice water poured over my head. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, then forced myself to speak slowly and calmly.
“Yes,” I said, clasping my rebellious hands together behind my back. “I would be honored to accept your offer.”
“Wonderful,” he said, giving a slight nod. Then he turned to look at Michaels. “Are we done here, Officer?”
The confused policeman looked to Major Freedom and nodded. “Uh, yes sir, Major Freedom.”
“Good. I’m sure Silver Scarab will handle any necessary paperwork.” He turned his gaze to me. “Shall we go?” he asked as his boots left the ground. He floated upward, blue cape billowing out behind him majestically.
I gave the patrolman a little salute before drifting upward myself.
“Follow me,” he said, then took off toward the city in the distance.
I shook my head and rocketed right behind him, feeling a slight bit less overwhelmed by his presence than I had a few minutes earlier.
Of course, I still wanted to squeal.
CHAPTER 24:
AMERICAN IDOLS
Major Freedom didn’t talk during the short flight into the city. He looked back once or twice at me following him, smiled, then turned his attention forward again. Which was probably for the best, since my tongue felt all tied just being near him. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at the approaching skyline. I spotted our destination easily since the shield-scales-sword logo on the side of the building glowed a brilliant white.
The Tower of Justice, home to the Justice Brigade, sat on Lake Shore Drive, directly across the street from Lake Michigan, a few blocks south of the Navy Pier. By itself, it looked almost identical to the rest of the multi-storied structures that dominated the downtown Chicago skyline.
However, as we flew closer, I realized that most of the large omni-plex windows running up and down the side of the Tower were fake. The panels themselves were real, but they were only fastened to the concrete to give the illusion of windows. From the ground or neighboring buildings, the effect would have been seamless. Up close, it was plenty obvious.
I started to head toward the roof, but the world-famous hero circled around the building to the lakefront side. Following him, I watched as he slowed to land on a durasteel balcony jutting out two floors down from the top. Major Freedom crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me as I made my own approach. When my boots touched down, the reddish glow of a sensor module flashed just above the reinforced entrance in front of me.
“Identification scanner,” Freedom said, gesturing at the light. “It uses a combination of programmed biometrics, facial recognition, and energy signatures to determine if the person standing on the platform is a friend or enemy. It’s even good enough to detect metamorphs or power mimics.”
I tensed, waiting for some automated voice to start screaming “Crushette! Crushette!” Instead, the light winked off a second later, the thick doors slid open, and Freedom ushered me inside.
He must have noticed my anxiety. “Not to worry, Kayo,” he said, following behind me. “I’ve already taken the liberty of programming it with your bio-signature.”
I turned around to look at him. “Where did you get the data?”
He pressed a button that caused the opaque glass of the doors to shift to clear. “Well, the EAPF does have it on file from when you were processed at the Max.”
I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest to stare at him. My face felt warm, and the need to use the bathroom evaporated instantly. “Is that so?”
“However, I didn’t get it from them,” he continued, holding up one hand defensively. “Luminosity provided it to us. She said it was one recently taken.”
I nodded, unable to resist a small grin. “That girl loves playing with her toys,” I said. I decided not to comment on the reason why there was a fresh scan.
“Yes, our Contriver is the same way, as you’ll see.” He swept his arm around in a wide arc. “Welcome to the Tower of Justice.”
The room was spacious. Marble tile flooring in a gray and eggshell checkered pattern gleamed with the sheen of carefully applied polish. Three leather sofas on the left side of the room were arranged in a way that would be conducive to conversation. A jumbo monitor, easily ten feet in diameter, hung from the nearby wall. It was currently showing a map of the city and its suburbs. Little red circles formed and vanished in various random spots.
Major Freedom noticed my attention on the screen.
“We monitor every incident of criminal activity in the Chicago city limits as well as within a fifty-mile perimeter. Normal as well as Enhanced. The small stuff: armed robberies, simple assault, et cetera, we leave to the other superhero teams in the city. Or to the CPD. We focus on the more serious Enhanced threats.”
I nodded. It made sense. If the Justice Brigade rushed to every reported crime that came across the wire, they’d be working around the clock without a break.
“Sort of like at what happened in Chicago Heights?” I asked.
“Exactly,” he said. “Deluge was being transferred from the Max to the care of the Mounties. His partners decided to stage a rescue while he was awaiting transport. Luckily, you showed up to give Scarab a hand in stopping them.” He smiled proudly. “Now all three of them get to spend some quality time together behind bars.”
“I’m just happy I could be of assistance,” I said with a shrug.
“I think you’re more than just someone who can provide assistance, Kayo.” A wry smile appeared on his face. Or at least, the half not covered by his mask.
“Please call me Karen,” I said, giving the room another look over. �
�Code names work better in the field. When you’re not out trying to save the world, they just get tiring.”
He nodded. “I completely agree. I’m Henry,” he said. “Or Hank, depending on your preference.”
Major Freedom—or Hank—then led me through a set of double doors on the right. On the other side, a wide catwalk circled around the edge of the open room below. Beneath the walkway, I could see an entertainment room with two large televisions, a pool table, and several old-school video game consoles.
“When we’re not training, patrolling, or sleeping, you can usually find most of the team in here,” he explained. “Recreation comes so rarely, everyone makes the most of it.”
Another set of doors led down a staircase to a long corridor with a dozen widely-spaced doors, each one adorned with large silver letters forming the code name of a Brigade member:
Silver Scarab… Miss Amazing... Macro-Max... Contriver... Superior Man... Astounding Guy... Laserette... Gravatix… Major Freedom.
“This is the team’s living areas,” Hank said as he stopped before a door bearing no name. “Of course, some of us, Scarab, for example, have a home elsewhere in the city, and only stay here during shift times and for the occasional crisis.”
He pressed a button beside the door to reveal what was easily a presidential-style suite on the other side. With a sweep of his arm, he bid me step across the threshold.
The room was easily thirty feet across with a half wall separating a king-sized bed from a sitting area containing a durasteel desk, a small sofa, and a little window overlooking the city. One door led into a bath with both a full-size tub and a shower. There was even a small sauna.
The other doorway led into an empty walk-in closet that was nearly the size of my bedroom back home.
“Holy shit,” I said, turning around several times to try and take in the sheer size of the place. “Is every room like this?”
“Yes. With a few exceptions.” He walked over to what looked like a sliding panel inside the closet. “We added some additional features based on the abilities of the occupant,” he said. “For example, this is for the fliers on the team.” He placed his palm on a scanner beside the panel. The section of the wall swooshed open to reveal the opening small tubular shaft about five feet in diameter.
“Elevator?” I asked, stepping over to look inside the vertical tunnel.
“Not exactly. It’s an access way leading up to an exit hatch on the roof. That way, you can get dressed in the closet, then head outside without having to navigate through the complex to the hangar or the patio. Shaves approximately two minutes off response time.”
I whistled. Richard was definitely going to hear a request for this addition when I saw him.
Major Freedom shrugged. “Of course, it is one way only. To get back inside, you have to go through one of the patio ledge entrances. You know, for security reasons.”
“Of course,” I agreed, still wowed by the consideration given to the needs of the team members. Running through the hallways and up the stairs with the clock ticking always seemed to take forever.
“How about you take a few minutes to get settled in, then we can reconvene in the briefing room. That’s the room we first came in.”
“Wait,” I said. “Get settled in? This is… my room?”
“Yes. Hopefully, the accommodations are acceptable.”
I nodded, trying to not jump up and down. “Yeah. They’ll do.”
“Excellent. See you in a few minutes then.” He smiled and left the room.
As soon as I was alone, I flopped on the bed, sighing at the softness of the mattress. It was like a little slice of heaven. I lay there looking at the ceiling for a few minutes before I called Alexis.
“You should see the size of the rooms, Lexi-chan,” I said to her. “They’re as big as our entertainment room.”
“I heard they went through a major refurbish last year,” she replied, envy filling her voice. “Something about an anonymous donor giving them a couple of million dollars.”
“I think Richard needs to loosen his wallet. We could use an upgrade. It’s not like he can’t afford it,” I said, grinning. “At the very least, Darla and I could use a direct access to outside.”
“Yeah, that would be awesome.” She paused for a moment, then sighed. “I miss you, K.”
I laughed softly. “Come on, chick. I’ve been gone for only a few hours. I spend more time away at Kurt’s.”
“Kurt lives only a few miles from headquarters,” she said. “Yeah, I know that if there was an emergency, you could get back here in less than an hour. But still feels like you’re far, far away.”
I sighed. “I know. Hey, how about I promise you we are going to have a bestie date night as soon as all this banquet hoopla is over? We can even go see that movie you’ve been talking about nonstop.”
“Really? That would be awesome,” she giggled.
“It’s a deal,” I insisted.
After I finally got off the phone with Alexis, I called Kurt. He was at work and only had time to chat for a little bit. I told him about my exciting adventure helping Scarab with Storm Front.
“Yeah,” he said when I was finished. “Storm Front can be a handful. Individually, they can’t think their way out of a wet paper bag. But together, their powers are formidable enough to overcome their stupidity.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Deluge didn’t seem the Mensa type.”
“You know, though,” Kurt added. “You shouldn’t have been caught off guard like that. When we suspected them of being in Rock Hill last month, a memo on them went out to all the heroes in North and South Carolina.”
Memo? What memo? “Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot.” I really needed to start paying more attention to the feeds coming from the EAPF.
If they could be trusted.
“Anything new on the other front?” I asked, hinting at the strange behavior of the EAPF.
“No,” he said. “In fact, things are a little less weird than they were. Either the person or persons behind the plan to freeze you guys out gave up, or they’ve moved on to a different tactic. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”
“Okay. Let me know if you find out anything new.”
“I will,” he said. “Look, I have to go into a meeting. Can I call you tonight?”
I smiled into the phone. “Of course. As long as you call me dirty names.”
He laughed. “You got it. Just don’t get too comfortable up there, Karen. I expect you home in a few days.”
“I promise,” I said. “Bye.”
I hung up the phone, climbed off the bed, finally daring to examine the ruined backpack to inspect the damage done from landing on the street.
The containers for my shampoo and body spray were split open. Everything from my extra underwear to my jeans smelled like it had been dipped in a bath full of lavender and mangoes. I rinsed everything out in the bathroom sink and hung them up in the closet, hoping a good airing out would help. Otherwise, I was going to have to go shopping or wait until Richard arrived with my suitcase.
The hole in my uniform wasn’t that noticeable, other than the fact that a circle of pink flesh poked out from the black material. Maybe I could borrow a sewing kit from someone.
I left my temporary domicile, tracing my way back upstairs to the briefing room to meet Hank.
When I entered the room, Major Freedom was standing in front of the gigantic monitor with another man in a uniform consisting of bright yellow chest armor over a matching long-sleeve jersey and a pair of black tights. The goatee on his face was the same color brown as his hair, but with bleached blonde highlights running down from the corners of his mouth to his chin.
I wanted to laugh, but managed to keep my lips pressed together hard enough to not do it.
Hank turned as I approached, gesturing at the man next to him. “Karen, this is John Ader, a.k.a. Superior Man. He’s one of our newer members. John, this is Karen Hashimoto.”
The man stuck out
his hand, giving me a lopsided grin. Something about the expression made me think of Max King.
“A pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you.” His smile widened. “Welcome to the Tower.”
“Pleased to meet you as well,” I said, not really feeling the least bit happy to be touching him. “Superior Man, huh? What’s your trick?”
Freedom patted his teammate on the shoulder. “John has the ability to direct various types of energy from his eyes.”
“Various types?” I asked. Usually, energy emission powers came in a single flavor.
John nodded. “Everything from lasers to concussive beams. Even x-rays, if I want.” The sleazy grin widened.
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to remind myself that he might not be using that power to peep through clothing. When I opened them, I cocked my head to the side.
“So,” I said, arching a brow. “You only have the eye powers, yet you named yourself ‘Superior Man’?”
“Yes,” he said, “So?”
“Maybe you should have gone with something more appropriate. Like, Goggles?”
He waggled his eyebrows and leaned closer. “There are lots of ways a man can be superior,” he said in a near-whisper.
You’re a guest, Karen. Remember that. I clenched my jaw, walking away before I could do something I would probably regret. Like throw him out the window.
The other set of doors slid open as Silver Scarab came in. Major Freedom turned in her direction.
“Everything wrapped up, Cassandra?” he asked.
“Well, Frick, Frack, and Froyo are on their way to the Great White North,” she said with a grin.
The expression lit up her deep green eyes. As she neared, she stopped, giving me an odd look. Then she nodded toward the two men standing in front of the monitor.
“I can tell by the look on your face that you’ve met John,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest