“Everything but the part about being asked.”
“Who asked you?”
“Central, they called me—” He waves his hand at me to interrupt. I have to clench my jaw to keep from biting his head off.
“Central has no record of sending you here, in fact they have multiple attempts at calling you to explain yourself which you ignored.”
No wonder he’s mad. At least he isn’t yelling at me. This was a setup. Dammit. I knew the risks when I joined, in a way this is good. It confirms what I already knew. Cat-7 was behind my parents disappearance, and now they want me out of the picture.
“I can give you the recordings on my end, they called me. I don’t know what’s going on here, Major, but I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Tell that to the two dead guys over there.” He turns and walks away before I can respond.
“Jerk,” I say inside my helmet. My gut hurts and I suddenly very much want the faceplate off. I don’t care the circumstances, or how much they brought it on themselves, I killed two men.
I’m detecting elevated cardiac vitals. I recommend deep calming breaths.
“Thanks. Domino, I need you…”
“One sec, just clearing things up with—”
“Now, please.”
She’s beside me in a second. Another second later we’re in my home. Her teleportation is vastly different than the quantum elevator. I don’t feel anything, I blink and I’m home. I lurch over to the bar and grab the handles. The suit flies off of me in a hurry and my chair slides underneath me. The bar lowers me down into the seat.
I put my head down as low as I can and try to take deep calming breaths.
“Amelia… are you okay?”
“I could use some of those calming pheromones of yours right about now.”
She kneels down beside me, a hand on my shoulder speaks soothing words to me.
“It’ll be okay. I know it isn’t easy, when this happens, but it’s part of the job.”
I know she’s using her powers on me, the logic of that doesn’t keep it from working. My chest loosens up and I feel like I can breathe again.
“It was a setup, Kate, plain and simple.”
She shakes her head. “They’re part of a hi-tech cabal. They’ve hit three or four central banks in the last six months using experimental weapons and communications tech. No one knows where they get it, or how. For that matter, why they use it to rob banks. They’ve gotten away with almost a hundred million dollars. It wasn’t a setup, it was bad luck.”
I shake my head and run my hands through my hair. No, it was. I wheel over to my mini-fridge and pop a Coke. I offer one to her, which she takes. I open mine and drink. Even with Kate’s whammy, I’m in shock, I know I am. Sugar helps, intellectually I know this, but it takes a few moments to remove the edge.
“Then why doesn’t Central have a record of sending me there?”
She sips her soda for a few seconds before replying. “Okay, you may have a point, but it could have been a technical glitch.”
“I’m not prepared to go full coast to coast just yet, but something is fishy.”
“Come back to HQ when you’re feeling better, we still have to file official reports and what not. Don’t be too long and,” she puts her hand on my shoulder and I can smell her perfume, which means her pheromones are working on me and my head clears a little, “don’t be too quick, either.”
I’m flying through the air on my way to Las Vegas when it hits me. I need to super cool the quantum field while heating the core! It’s so simple I almost missed it. The only question is, can I adapt it to Arsenal? If I can, even in a limited capacity, I can amp up almost every aspect of the suit. I grin at the possibilities
“—Do you copy, Arsenal?” Major Force asks.
Crap, I was too busy daydreaming to hear him.
“Negative, sir, uh it’s noisy out here.” I can hear him sigh in over the comlink. I’m still on probation and I haven’t impressed too many people. Deadman died, and there was a lot of suspicion on me. Luckily, a nearby surveillance camera cleared me. Beyond him, there hasn’t been a lot of opportunity to prove myself. There was the bank robbery which couldn’t have gone worse if I tried. Then the PR stunt Kate put together to save the cat from the tree. I almost died laughing on the job. She says with how absolutely bad ass my red and white armor looks, I could easily be the next big thing on the toy circuit.
“The Las Vegas PD reports sightings of at least three F3’s in the city. Superpowers of any kind are banned in the city, which is what triggered the alert. They’re there to rob a casino, or pull some other sort of job. We need to locate them and bring them in with as little property damage as possible. Understood?”
There is a chorus of ‘yes’ and ‘roger’ over the net. “Understood,” I say. Mostly to be different.
“Do we know who?” I ask.
“Jack Danger is the only one we know of for sure. The other two set off the alarms when they attempted to enter the MGM grand.” Meta-human sniffers developed by none other than Category-7 work by detecting a hundred different biometric readings from a person. In a microsecond they correlate them to all known metas and then make a best guess. It works surprisingly well. The more they detect, the more accurate they become. It turns out, almost every meta has altered brain waves or metabolic processes. It only takes one for the sniffer to work.
“If you check your staff email you will see the portfolio central has sent over on JD. Remember, he’s strong, fast, and agile. On top of everything else he can do, don’t underestimate him. If he’s here with two others, then he’s in charge. Questions?”
No one asks any, so I don’t.
“We’re twenty minutes out, read the file and be ready.”
The transport we’re flying on is a private Gulfstream modified for in-flight departure. Since my armor works best in sunlight I opted to use the rigging on the belly to fly instead of being inside. It isn’t like I would pop my mask for a drink. I run a detailed note past Epic on my thoughts on Zero Point energy, then I dive into the email.
Danger really is dangerous. He’s capable of deadlifting three tons, he can run at seventy miles an hour. Jump a half mile from a dead stop and has low-level invulnerability. Nothing short of a sniper rifle can penetrate his skin and he’s been hit by a mac truck and walked away. On top of all of his other abilities he can emit a low-level EMP with a touch of his fingers. He’s been known to induce heart attacks and shut down buildings. Lucky for me, he can’t touch my skin and the armor is of course shielded from EMP. It would be pretty stupid to be flying around in armor which could be shut off by a strong solar flare.
“Arsenal, we’re going to do a flyby of the city, I want you to detach and find us a roof top on the strip near the grand.”
“Roger,” I reply immediately. It wouldn’t do for him to not like me. As irritating as he is, he’s the final say on if I’m let on the team. Kate has assured me no one goes more than a month on probation. A month passed by yesterday.
The jet circles the city once. As it lines up for the airport they slow the engines to allow me to detach. I pull the harness and I’m falling. I’ve never been skydiving before, I’ve watched a lot of videos on it, but never done it. This would have to be as close as I get. I pin my arms and legs straight like an arrow and ignite my thrusters. They roar to life. I hit my top speed in a few seconds.
“Epic, full sensor sweep. Access the local cameras if you can and give us a bit more spread.” The team could have access to the cameras in retrospect, but with Epic we can have him monitoring them live.
On it.
I put my hands in front of me to slow my thrust and bring my suit up to hover over the Hard Rock cafe, it looks like the only place with a roof flat enough to stand on. Sadly, it isn’t very high.
After I land I lean over the edge and scan the crowd, I’m not really looking, just giving Epic a chance to ‘see’ everything.
“You in position, Arsenal?”
“Yep.”
I hear a pop behind me, followed by a second one. Force leans out over the edge next to me. “You couldn’t have found a taller building?”
I restrain my biting response about his observation skills. “This is the only one with a flat surface.”
“It will have to do.” He holds his hand up to his ear to speak to central.
“ETA on the containment team?”
I don’t hear the response because I’m not tuned to the frequency, but from the look on his face I can tell he’s not happy.
“And if we can’t?”
I’m tempted to eavesdrop. However there are more pressing things happening. I want Epic’s full computing cycles on finding JD. Two more rapid pops behind me and we have the full team. Force, Domino, Mr. Perfect, and me. We’re not exactly heavy hitters. If JD’s compatriots have any non-punchy powers, we could be in trouble. I go over my load out. I put the pods after my bean bag rounds. I don’t know how effective they would be against a guy who can short things out. Four bean bags, four pods. Worse case I can hit his men with them. Kinetic lance is on, but it won’t charge until I’m hit. IP Cannons are ready to go, their capacitors are fully charged. The first shot will be full power. Finally, I bring the particle beam on-line. I can only power it minimally without severely affecting the other systems. My capacitors are at full and all the power I can produce is accounted for.
Mr. Perfect strides over to the side to look down at the strip. His costume, or uniform, or whatever, is a bright red suit with a black tie, he carries a magician's cane in one hand and his other is gloved. He also wears a Phantom of the Opera mask. I don’t know why, his identity is public. Major Force has a military cut jacket, cargo pants and boots. He looks like he’s still an active duty Marine. His concession to the team is his mask, it covers his forehead and eyes down to his cheeks. It’s black and dangerous looking.
Domino is the most stylish, but I would expect her to be. She wears a black form fitting catsuit with several belts, buckles and pockets. She carries a lot of small gear with her, two pistols, Tasers, and even a grenade for if things go badly. Her ability to teleport is a tactical asset not to be underestimated.
Epic is bracketing everyone on the strip, running facial recognition in the blink of an eye. If they’re out there, he will find them.
“Do we know of any possible targets?” asks Domino.
“The local PD says there are two fights tonight with large purses, not to mention the casinos are packed for the long weekend,” Force replies.
For some reason I thought we would land and the bad guys would come running out of cover and we would fight. I’m not a police officer, I don’t know how to investigate things, and I certainly can’t go around asking people have you seen this man?
“Out of curiosity,” I say with my synthesized voice, “Why are we here?”
Force grunts at me. “Weren’t you listening to my briefing?”
“Yeah, I heard your briefing, and I read the file.”
“Then you know why we’re here.” He says as if it is obvious.
Domino glances at me and raises an eyebrow. Her eyes shine like jewels in the night and I wonder for a second if it is part of her empathic powers. I shake my head to focus.
“No, I know why a team was sent, what I’m asking is why this team was sent?”
“If you’re not up for a little danger, proby,” Mr. Perfect chimes in, “you’re in the wrong line of business.”
“None of you think it’s odd we were sent? Jack Danger is on the FBI’s top ten powers wanted list. He’s rated an F3, and he has two F3’s with him. I don’t know what you all have rated me as, but it is probably F2—”
“That’s for damn sure,” Major Force says with a snarl. To his credit he hasn’t taken his eyes off the street.
“So, I ask again, why this team? We’re shorthanded and doing the math I’m not sure we’re capable of taking on three F3’s.”
Domino puts her hand to her earpiece, “Sighting, two blocks North. They’re out in the open. The sniffers picked them up as the passed the north entrance.”
Force smiles as he turns to face us, “We’re here because it is our job and we’re paid to protect people. If you don’t like it,” he points his big finger at me, “you can walk whenever you want.”
I clench my jaw trying not to say anything but this is too much.
“Dude, what is your problem? Is it because I’m a woman, or because I don’t have any powers? You’ve been an asshole to me since the day we met.”
His eyes widen and the little vein above his eye twitches.
“Force, Arsenal, now is not the time,” Domino breaks in, stepping between us, “Focus on the mission.”
Mission, right. I don’t know how these people don’t see this, it feels like a setup to me.
“We’ll talk about this after, Arsenal. Right now I need you to fly recon. Perfect, go on the ground, blend in and be ready to strike. Domino,” he turns to her, “’Port us there now.”
I look at her as she moves beside him. She puts her hand on his shoulder. I’m tempted to open my faceplate and tell her to be safe. Instead I nod. I hear a pop and they’re gone.
“Epic, stealth mode and blast off.”
The strip from two-hundred feet is beautiful. Neon lights reflect off of everything casting brilliant hues and shadows. It’s also playing havoc with thermal imaging. I switch to enhanced and I’m looking at the street as if I were fifty feet above instead of two-hundred.
“I’ve got them,” Perfect says over the comms. His voice sounds cocky and arrogant. I know it’s part of his persona but I want to punch him in the face.
“Epic, if I go unconscious for any reason, activate safety protocols. I can’t have people trying to remove the armor from me.”
Affirmative.
I zoom to where Perfect is. He’s changed his appearance somehow, he has a tux on and a gorgeous blonde in an evening dress to hang on his arm. The only reason I know it’s him is his comm pings my HUD. I knew he could make constructs… but holograms?
“Be ready, they’re coming up on our position.”
I track forward until I find them. Three men, walking afield of each other. They have a confident stride about them. The one in the middle is Danger, his ID pops up on my screen. Epic flags the one to his right—Foehunter. What kind of stupid name is—crap, he’s bad ass. Low-level speedster with hands like razors. Apparently he’s a world class martial artist and can cut people to ribbons in a few seconds.
Epic flashes me a warning. The third guy has no ID.
“Force, the one on the right is Foehunter, the guy on the left is unknown.” I tell him over the comms.
“What? How do you know? Central doesn’t have an ID on anyone but Danger.”
“I’m telling you, it’s Foehunter, keep Domino back, this guy will chew up anyone who isn’t armored or invulnerable.” There is a moment of silence. He can’t seriously dislike me enough to risk her life?
“Kate, what do you think?”
“You may not like her, but if Arsenal says it’s him, it’s him.” I smile. I feel my cheeks warm in the armor and I try not to cough from embarrassment. I don’t think anyone has ever expressed faith in me to such a degree.
“Alright, hang back,” Force says, “Perfect, you’ve dealt with the guy, is it him?” asks Force. While they talk Epic locks on to each of them. I could spray bean bags at them and follow up with AG pods. It might catch them by surprise.
“I’m close enough give me a—yeah, that’s his ugly ass. If I can get closer I can wrap him up easy enough.”
I’m tempted to have Epic shunt power to my cannons and open with a barrage of ionic pulses. However, I would have to drop stealth to do it and I don’t think—
The trio stops. In a very familiar gesture, Jack raises his hand to his ear. They have overwatch? This feels less and less like some robbery and more like an orchestrated plan.
“I think they’ve ma
de—” I don’t get to finish. Foehunter vanishes in a blur of speed. He moves through the crowd and in a blink slashes Mr. Perfect from chin to thigh. Mr. Perfect flies back against the fountain he was standing at and falls in the water. A dark stain spreads out from where he’s laying, his tux vanishes along with the girl who had been hanging on his arm.
“Pierre!” Domino screams over the comms.
Force roars as he barrels in. It wasn’t my imagination, the guy gets frigging huge when he powers up. Three or four inches taller, at least six wider. He runs straight at Jack Danger.
“Domino, I’ll tag Foehunter, get Mr. Perfect to a hospital!”
“Ready,” she says.
“Epic, drop stealth, charge cannons.”
Suddenly, heat bleeds from my suit and the air around me lights up as my thrusters go full power. I fling my arms behind me to dive down. When I’m forty feet away, Foehunter turns to face me. For some reason he isn’t leaving Perfect, it’s like he knows someone will try to rescue him. It’s then I notice his collateral damage. As he moved through the crowd he cut everyone he passed. Some minor, some severe. A trail of blood follows him spattered across the concrete.
“Domino, do you see it?” I ask as I throw my arms up to halt my forward momentum and flip up to land. I’ve seen footage of me landing, I know how impressive the suit looks. I don’t bother with witty banter, I aim my left hand at him and fire. The pulse cannon’s energy is on a narrow beam, only five inches wide. I have a perfect lock on—he’s gone. The cannon impacts the fountain and channels into the ground. My kinetic shield drops ten percent… twenty… thirty… he’s hitting me with lightning fast strikes, each blow coming in faster than I can make out.
Three more strikes and I’m down to twenty percent shielding. The lance is fully charged though. I smile, “Epic, drop kinetic shielding.”
The field fades around me. I feel the next blow land. It hits my shoulder and spins me around. I also hear him scream in pain. He’s standing ten feet away from me, holding his hand as it drips blood on the ground.
Arsenal (Full Metal Superhero Book 1) Page 7