Supers - Ex Heroes 6

by Jamie Hawke

  “Since we’re supers it probably wouldn’t be a problem, but still, Drew preferred it if we didn’t fight all the time, what with being… you know, expecting.”

  “You’re pregnant?” I asked, and threw my arms around her. The fact that this would make me an uncle was one thing, the implications for me and my team another entirely. “Holy—wow, this is huge. But…” I turned back to my ladies, confused. “How?”

  “It has to do with our mother and who she is,” Navani replied. She glanced over to Andromida. “In fact, have you been feeling… different, yet?”

  Andromida shook her head, then scowled. “Wait, you mean… I have a good chance, too?”

  “Better than most,” Lamb said. “Based on your parentage.”

  Navani hesitated, then blurted out, “Plus, there’s still the prophecy, and he could just as well fulfill it. Or, your child with him.”

  Andromida looked like she was going to be sick.

  Noticing this, Lamb motioned us on. “Come on. Let’s find somewhere to discuss this further, away from prying ears and eyes.”

  We agreed and followed her through the crowd. We’d just entered a mess hall to our right when I noticed Hadrian sitting at a table by himself, a mug in his hand. He looked our way, that old man’s face of his lighting up.

  “Breaker,” he said, standing, and welcomed me with a handshake followed by a hug, then did the same for each of the ladies. “I was able to check in with Letha, and understand everything’s moving forward as it should.”

  “We did our part,” I replied.

  “Sam did hers,” Twitch said.

  “Very good, very good.” He turned to Sam and let out a chuckle. “Welcome home.”

  “It’s good to be here,” Sam said. “What next?”

  He grinned, nodding for her to come with him. The two walked off, leaving me to crane my neck looking around for any sign of my family.

  “Your mom and dad will meet us here, and we’ve requested the area be kept clear for your meeting.” Lamb gestured to a table set with an assortment of foods, including what looked like a roast, assorted cheeses, and bottles of wine. “Help yourself.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Shimmer said, and Gale went with her.

  I started to follow, but Twitch put a hand on my arm and said, “Stay and talk. I’ll bring you some food.”

  “Thanks,” I said, turning to join Lamb at one of the tables.

  “We actually have to check in,” Laurel said, already at the door with Harp.

  “Wait,” Charm called after them, but they had already stepped out. She frowned, crossed her arms, and sat next to me.

  “Is everything okay?” Lamb asked.

  “Acting distant, is all.”

  “Distant, and…” I started, but a look from Charm shut me up. Instead, I diverted the conversation back. “So, my parents?”

  “They were actually gone,” Lamb explained, “tracking someone down for Hadrian, but when he heard you were on your way back, he went and got them. After this, who knows how long it’ll be before you get to see them again.”

  “Why?” I asked. “Where am I going?”

  “Not you. Them.” At my look of confusion, she added, “Tier One’s are kept fairly busy, you know, and there were a couple rotten apples among the supers who had shown up. Had to be weeded out.”

  “That makes sense, I guess. Just thought I might have more time with them.”

  She nodded. “Which is why Hadrian coordinated this get-together.”

  “Well if it isn’t my savior,” a voice said, and I turned in my seat to see my mother there, arm wrapped in my father’s. “Back so soon?”

  “I’m going to go ahead and assume you didn’t tuck tail and run?” my father said with a teasing smile.

  “You’re looking at one of Earth’s greatest champions,” Aegriss said, turning to face them.

  “I have no doubt,” my father replied.

  “Excuse me,” I said to the table, giving Aegriss an appreciative smile as I stood to greet my parents.

  “Your brother should be back soon,” my mom said, hugging me.

  “Yes, we spoke briefly on the way in.”

  “Everything really is falling into place, isn’t it?” My father clapped me on the shoulder, then glanced over at the team.

  “I thought you weren’t on board with all of this,” I replied. “The Elder stuff.”

  He glanced at my team and gave me a knowing smile. “You… you’re taking good care of them?”

  “Dear!” my mom scolded, and I chuckled.

  “I’m only saying he seems to have his hands quite full,” my dad replied. “And I’ve been thinking about it… Since it’s best for him, I support it.”

  “They’re doing well, Dad,” I said, not wanting the conversation to go that direction.

  “Good, good.” We stood there for a moment before he gestured to a table and the three of us sat together.

  “You know,” my dad said, breaking the silence, “we would’ve preferred you be raised among our kind.”

  I blinked, not expecting this from him right away. “Oh?”

  He put his hand on my mom’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “As horrible as it sounds, we never would have been able to raise you. Still, on Earth?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  “And yet, it got them here, alive,” my mom said. “In a sense, it couldn’t have worked out better.”

  “I…” Trying to think of how to respond to that, it took me a moment to ask, “Do you think we would’ve been under attack if we’d been raised out here? Killed as babies, or something?”

  “It’s possible,” my dad admitted. “It probably worked out for the best, in many ways. And hey, it’s great that we now have supers with a connection to Earth, if we ever need it.”

  “The prophecy—” my mom started, but was interrupted by a groan from my dad. When he didn’t say anything further, she continued. “It still could hold true, you know.”

  “I’m happy for Drew, but honestly?” I laughed. “I’d never imagined him as a father.”

  “Doesn’t have to be him,” she pointed out, then turned and eyed Andromida. “You have one of the sisters on your team.”

  “Me? Her?”

  “Who knows?”

  “But…” I shook my head, trying to imagine Andromida cradling a baby in her arms. “Do we even need the prophecy anymore? I thought that now you two are back, and Drew and I are as powerful as ever, we can put a stop to whatever’s out there.”

  “Maybe,” she admitted.

  “I’m with you on this one, son,” my father interjected.

  “However…” My mom eyed him, then lowered her voice. “There’s always the chance that a child of our line and theirs could be even more powerful, powerful beyond comprehension. And likewise, there might be some power on the other side that we can’t begin to understand. Who are we to question the prophecies?”

  “Gods,” my dad replied, and then laughed as he pounded his fist to his chest. “Are we not, son? We are gods!”

  My team glanced over at that, but quickly returned to their conversation.

  “On Earth, that would be blasphemous,” I said, not sure why I even said it.

  A hearty laugh escaped my dad’s mouth, and he leaned in, finger pointed my way. “Maybe that god of Earth is the one we’re out here to destroy.”

  “Double blasphemy,” I said. It wasn’t that I necessarily even believed in God, but I had prayed a few times out of desperation, and the idea of what he was saying felt… wrong.

  “Ignore your father,” my mom said, waving him off. “Power went to his head long before you came along.”

  My father simply smiled.

  “And next?” I asked, ready to move the conversation on. “Do you know where you’ll be headed?”

  “We have many issues to deal with,” my father said, a sort of sideways glance toward my mom. “If we were to tackle them together, I’m certain it would go much fa
ster.”

  “Yet, I’m needed here.” My mother sighed.

  “And me?” I asked. “Where do I tie into all of this?”

  “You will have your own mission, I’m sure.” My dad leaned in, eyes piercing. “Trust me, son, we’ll change the universe. You have the blood of Apollo in you.”

  “Right.” I frowned, not meaning to be rude, but annoyed that anyone would think my merits in life were because I happened to share his blood. Then again, a large part of my power-base had come from the two of them, so who was I to argue?

  A super appeared at the door and motioned to them.

  “We should be going, but we’ll see you out there.” My mother stood, a proud smile directed my way. “This might not be the path we chose for you, but… we’re proud of you, son.”

  They followed the super out, and I made my way back to the others.

  “I should check on the ceremony,” Lamb said. “But first, let me show you to your rooms.”

  She escorted us to our quarters, each of us put up in a metallic dome not so far from the landing deck and dais of the Citadel. Charm joined us halfway through, saying the other two had accommodations from before, and had decided to rest up until the ceremony.

  “Are we losing them?” Shimmer asked.

  “Assuming we ever had them, that is,” Gale added. “I mean, they’re warriors, sure enough, but… Team Breaker? Not so much.”

  “They could have been,” Charm said. “Maybe. I mean, even I thought they were leaning that way.”

  “Me too,” Aegriss chimed in.

  Twitch grunted. “Hey, if—”

  “If you’ll excuse me,” an older super dressed all in white said, nodding to me and then addressing Aegriss. “Hadrian wanted to speak with you.”

  “A debrief?” Aegriss said, turning to me with concern. “Or…?”

  “I’m not sure,” the super said.

  “It’ll be okay,” Lamb told her.

  “We trust Hadrian,” I added with a glance at Andromida, who nodded, so I stuck to it. As little interaction with Hadrian as we’d had, he was so deep into all this Citadel and Elder stuff that if he was on the wrong side, I was pretty sure we would all be fucked.

  “What was that about?” Twitch asked.

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” Lamb replied. “But I should excuse myself.”

  Charm turned to her, perking up. “But professor, I was hoping—”

  Lamb cut her off with a laugh. “Professor? That was years ago, dear. Please, call me Lamb.”

  “Sorry, it’s just—the memories feel so recent, so real,” Charm replied. “We didn’t get enough chance to talk last time. I was hoping we could catch up, sometime. I have so many questions.”

  “After the ceremony, then,” Lamb said, and gave her a pleasant smile. “I look forward to it.”

  “Professor?” Shimmer asked, then her eyes lit up. “Wait, she’s the same one—the teacher at Supralines?”

  “She used to be, yes,” Charm said. “Back when I was there… with Laurel and Harp.”

  “About them.” Twitch shook her head. “If they don’t want to be on the team, why should we care?”

  The worry in Charm’s eyes was answer enough.

  “We care because Charm cares,” I said, a hand on Charm’s shoulder. “And I promise, after the ceremony we’ll do everything we can to fix this. Okay?”

  “Thanks,” she replied, hand on mine.

  “Speaking of Hadrian, though,” Charm said, “you think Sam’s okay? Maybe we should check on her?”

  “She seems able to handle herself,” I replied.

  “Still… she’s alone out here, I mean, other than us and Hadrian. Been trapped in some weird space thing for years and years. I don’t know.”

  “You’re not trying to add another member to our not-so-little team, are you?” Twitch asked, eyebrow raised.

  Charm laughed, then pointed a finger at me. “Don’t fuck her.”

  “What? No,” I protested. “Of course not! You know we only add members at your discretion.”

  “Oh, is that how it works?” Charm grinned, hand on my chest now. She considered for a moment, then shook her head. “The girl’s old as hell, I mean—super old. It’s kinda weird.”

  “We’ve discussed age,” Andromida said. “I don’t think that alone is a disqualifier.”

  Charm couldn’t argue that.

  “And she’ll be an Elder, too,” Twitch pointed out.

  “Can’t have another Elder on the team,” Charm said, nodding as if making up her mind. “There you go. No. Don’t stick your dick in her.”

  I laughed. “I had no such intention, honestly.”

  “Good, then go check on her, and hurry up.”

  “What’ll you be doing?” I asked.

  “Getting some more of that food,” Charm replied. “It was that good.”

  She grabbed Twitch by the hand and walked off, tails waving, hips swaying tantalizingly on both. Damn, I looked forward to more down time with them. All this talk of fucking had gotten me a tad worked up.

  For now, though, I needed to keep my mind out of that realm. Focus on the task at hand, and that was our victory, along with my appointment to my new position as Elder with my new friend.

  I left them to go check on Sam but they were so busy exploring our new living quarters—Gale telling them some story that left them in stitches of laughter—that they barely noticed. When I found where they had put Sam and knocked on the door, she opened it a moment later with a look of surprise.

  “Hey,” Sam said.

  “I can’t believe we made it this far,” I replied with a chuckle. “And to think, we barely know you after all we’ve been through.”

  “Hadrian told you, huh?”

  “Yes! We’re going to be Elders together! Oh, man, my brother’s around here somewhere, too. I can’t wait for you to meet him and the rest of his team—”

  “All ladies, like yours?”

  I frowned, lowering my arms. “Not the hugging type?”

  “Also not the harem-joining type.”

  “I’m not here to recruit you, Sam. God. Just… to say thank you.”

  “Yeah?” She thrust out her hand. “Well, thank you, too.”

  “You really helped us out there,” I said, taking her hand. It was only then that I noticed something seemed off about her, like… something was broken, or at least needed fixing.

  “Excuse me, but was I not clear?” She pulled back, waving a hand in front of my face. “I’m not joining your little troupe of ladies.”

  I chuckled. “No, it’s not that. My powers, they… sense something. Something off about your armor.”

  “It’s… special.”

  “Sure. But do you mind if I check something?”

  “This isn’t a line?”

  “I promise, it’s not.”

  With a nod from her, I stepped back and pulled up my troubleshooter screen. Sure enough, the strange images on the screen started to form a pattern, one that showed something very interesting about her suit. Like it was alive, but more than that, like it was alive and needed healing. I made some adjustments, then some more, until it showed it as perfected. As far as I could tell, nothing had changed, but the screen said that it was done.

  “Fixed it.”

  “Fixed what?” Sam glanced down as if she would be able to see a difference.

  “Your armor. I’m not sure how, exactly, but yeah. It’s fixed.” I chuckled, shrugged, and said, “Maybe we’ll find out if we go into combat again? Anyway, best get changed over for the ceremony.”

  “Thanks,” she said, looking skeptical. “It was good fighting with you all, and I look forward to being an Elder at your side.”

  “You too,” I replied, then headed out, closing the door behind me to give her privacy to change. It felt nice having a new friend, one I wasn’t considering in that way. Not that I wouldn’t have been all for it if Charm had felt otherwise, but I had to agree that Sam—as beautiful as she
was—didn’t feel like a great fit.

  With each of the ladies so far, it had felt right. Sparks were flying right off the bat, in one way or another. For Sam, it was a special sort of connection, but not the same way. She was a lone wolf.

  And that was fine by me.

  13

  On the way to rejoin my ladies, I found Aegriss on her way back. Damn, she looked gorgeous, beaming, bubbling over with excitement. I smiled, thinking something was different about her but not sure what it was.

  “Well?” she said, twirling a little, eyes literally sparkling. When I didn’t say anything, she gave me a little wave.

  With her right arm.

  An arm that hadn’t been there earlier.

  “Oh!” I exclaimed and laughed, hugging her and then taking her by the new hand to kiss it. “Congrats.”

  “Congrats on the new arm,” she said with a laugh. “Not something you hear every day.”

  “Not something everyone can simply have replaced.”

  “And this one’s better than the last,” she noted. “They tell me the material is from a special metal, one used in super-related weapons and armor. Almost indestructible, with powers of its own. In a sense, I’m kind of a super now.”

  “I can’t wait to see it in action,” I replied. “Mind if I scan you to see if it tells me what powers the thing has?”

  “Actually, please. They told me it would adapt to me and our surroundings, so I’m as curious as you.”

  I pulled up the scanner and looked her way. It read: Aegriss: An android taken from one of the Paradise Planets, but as alive and real as the best of ‘em. Shares a link with me, and can hack into systems of ships, mechs, and more. New abilities include an Absorption Arm, able to take ranged attacks and harness them to throw back at the attacker. Can share her pleasure.

  “Oh, it’s like my brother’s power,” I said. “Sweet.”

  “Your brother’s power?”

  “Basically, he can get hit by certain types of powers, then throw that right back at the attacker. My scanner isn’t perfect, but from what I can tell, that’s what the arm does. Maybe some variation on it, but that’s the basic idea.”

  “Fun.” She held it up, moving her fingers, then glanced down at my crotch. “If you shoot me with that thing, what then?”