A Most Unlikely Hero, Vol. 2

by Brandon Varnell

She deserves better.

  Years ago, Alex had promised himself that he would always do his best to make her happy. The reason he had created Madison was so she would have someone at home who would spend time with her.

  “You could never be a bother.” Alex placed a hand on her shoulder. “Alice and I would love it if you came over. Right, Alice?”

  “It could be fun.” Alice agreed with him. “You’re troublesome, but troublesome people are sometimes fun to spend time with.”

  “Really… you two…” Jasmine sniffled a few times and wiped her eyes before she recovered and took what Alex liked to call her “traditional rich girl pose.” She placed one hand on her hip, thrust out her chest, and placed her other hand near her mouth. “Oh ho ho ho! Very well, Alexander, Alice, I shall grace you both with my magnificent presence. Come, let us travel to your abode.”

  “Sure,” Alice said. “By the way, we’re watching Titan Girls.”

  “Oh ho! So, you are still into that childish show, are you? Would it not be better if we watched something more mature, such as—”

  “Titan Girls.”

  “Oh ho ho ho! Alice, you are such a kidder!”

  Alex smiled as he, Jasmine, and Alice began the walk back home. They got along quite well despite being so different. As he quickened his pace to catch up with them, he pressed a small button on his IDband.

  I wonder how Gabrielle is doing, he thought as he listened to Jasmine and Alice banter. I hope she’s having fun.

  15

  Gabrielle was having a blast. She, Selene, Serah, and Ryoko had gone to a place called Ci Ci’s Karaoke Club. It was a nice place with colorful walls and plasteel floors. After paying the woman at the front counter, they’d gone into a room that was shaped like a square with rounded edges. On one wall was a holographic screen, and at the other end was a large couch that curved around a table.

  Everyone had let her go first, stating that it was a newbie privilege. They were so nice. Basically, all she had to do was select a song on the holographic screen and sing to the lyrics. She was very glad that Alex had taught her how to write in the human language, which was a lot different than Universal—the written language that had been adopted by the rest of the galaxy.

  Gabrielle had selected one of the songs on it, a song called Deep Space Love.

  And then she began to sing.

  “In the middle of space! Past the reaches of time! My love for you will never die! Deep space Love! Deep space love!”

  Gabrielle had never sung before. She’d been told that her mother had the most beautiful voice in the galaxy, but she couldn’t remember if her mom had ever sung to her. Either way, she’d had no idea that singing could be so fun.

  When her song finished, Gabrielle, breathless from having expended so much energy and oxygen, went up to her friends and beamed.

  “How was that? Was it good?”

  She looked curiously at everyone, who slowly lowered their hands away from their ears. They were smiling, but something seemed off about their smiles, though Gabrielle couldn’t figure out what that something was.

  “It was, um… interesting,” Selene said.

  “Yeah,” Serah agreed. “Really interesting.”

  “It sucked,” Ryoko said.

  “Ryoko!”

  “What?” Ryoko shrugged. “I’m not gonna lie about it. It was terrible.”

  “W-was my singing really that bad?” Gabrielle asked.

  “Absolutely awful,” Ryoko told her.

  “Do you two think my singing was bad?” She asked the other two.

  “Uh… well…” Selene hesitated. “I wouldn’t say it was bad, per se… it just wasn’t very good.”

  “It was kinda off-key,” Sarah added.

  Gabrielle needed a moment to think about this. Her singing was awful, apparently. She didn’t think she’d done anything wrong, but if her new friends said that her singing was bad, then she could only agree.

  “I see.”

  If her singing really was that bad, then it meant there was only one thing that she could do.

  “In that case, I need to keep practicing!”

  “What?” the other three asked in unison.

  Gabrielle ran back over to the holographic display and selected her next song. She was pumped now. She was going to practice and practice and practice, until she became the most incredible singer ever—or at least until karaoke ended and they had to leave.

  “Wait! Gabrielle! Why don’t you let someone else—”

  But it was too late.

  Gabrielle began to sing again.

  16

  Alex arrived home with Alice and Jasmine. While the two girls went into the living room, Alex journeyed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

  He’d decided to make grilled pizza; that was Jasmine’s favorite food, which he’d found out several years ago, during the first time that she had stayed the night. Consequently, that had also been when he’d built her Madison. Speaking of which…

  “Jasmine,” Alex called as he stuck his head through the door that led into the living room. “You’re planning to spend the night, right?”

  “Oh ho?!” Jasmine blushed bright red. “Well, I… suppose I could, but what about—”

  “I’ve already contacted Madison and let her know that it may be a possibility,” Alex called out from the kitchen.

  There was a pause before Jasmine answered him. “That is quite thoughtful of you, Alexander. As expected from a man of your caliber! Oh ho ho ho! Very well, then I, Jasmine de Truante, the Queen of Slumber Parties, shall allow you to be dazzled by my presence for the entire night. Oh ho ho ho!”

  “Yippie,” said an unenthused-sounding Alice.

  “Could you try to sound a little more pleased, Alice? Your best friend is going to spend the night with you. You should be more excited.”

  “… Yay…”

  “Oh, for the love of—you’re hopeless.”

  Chuckling, Alex went back into the kitchen and gathered the necessary ingredients. Grilled pizza required several main ingredients, the most important of which was the dough. Alex liked to use homemade doughs, and Jasmine had mentioned being able to taste the difference when he’d been lazy and bought convenience store dough one day. Since Jasmine didn’t come over often, he thought it would be nice to make her what she wanted.

  As he rummaged through the automatically rotating pantry—which he’d invented himself—he realized that there was a slight problem. Clicking his tongue, a dissatisfied Alex walked back into the living room.

  “It looks like I’m out of flour and baking powder,” he told them. “So, I’m heading to the store to pick some up. Do you two want anything else?”

  “Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait,” Alice said without looking away from the TV. It wasn’t Titan Girls, which wouldn’t come on until after six.

  “Nice try,” Alex said. “Try again.”

  “Oh ho, um, Alexander, would you mind getting me some mint chocolate chip ice cream?”

  Jasmine didn’t eat many sweets. While Madison was always willing to buy her some if she asked for them, her parents were strict about her diet. Even though they rarely paid attention to their daughter, they did monitor everything that she and her maid bought. Despite trying to act like a spoiled rich girl, Jasmine really was sweet, and she wanted to earn the approval of her parents, so she never bought sweets.

  However, it’s okay to eat them every once in a while.

  Alex remembered telling her that during one of the times when she had spent the night. It seemed that Jasmine still remembered.

  “Sure thing,” Alex said. “How about you, Alice? Last chance.”

  Alice looked like she wanted to pout. Her lips twitched several times. He almost smiled at the sight, but that would have ruined the effect.

  “Well?”

  “I guess… double fudge sundae.”

  “Got it. One mint chocolate chip and one double fudge sundae. I’ll be back soon.”

  “
Later, Bro.”

  “Have a safe journey, Alexander. Oh ho ho ho!”

  Alex left his house to the sound of Jasmine’s laughter.

  17

  Jameson had followed Gabrielle and the other three girls, tailing them like a music fan tailing his favorite idol. His plan had been to introduce himself, proclaim his undying love, and then ask for her hand in marriage. It was the perfect plan. No girl could resist a man of his magnificence. No girl would dare to resist him. He was the King of Marriage.

  Unfortunately, he’d lost Gabrielle when he’d gone to buy the ring. He had tried finding her again by using his 16,000,000 credit IDband tracker, but it seemed that she didn’t have a IDband, which was how the tracker, well, tracked people. This had left him in something of a conundrum.

  Thus, Jameson had taken to wandering the town. He didn’t know where Gabrielle might have gone, but if it meant finding her and proclaiming his undying love, then he would’ve tracked her to the ends of Mars City!

  “Yes! For that is what it means to be in love! Oh, Gabrielle! Where have you disappeared to?! Come here so that I, Jameson de Truante, the man who has been called the King of Love, can capture your heart with my undying devotion!”

  Several people stared at him as he spoke, but Jameson ignored them. People were always dazzled by his dashing good looks. They weren’t worth his time. Instead, he continued searching for Gabrielle.

  He was currently in the entertainment district. Gabrielle and the other three girls had taken a shuttle to this district, so she must have still been around there somewhere. Jameson was determined to find her.

  “Wasn’t that a blast?” asked a familiar and cheerful voice.

  “I suppose ‘blast’ is one way to call it,” another voice said.

  “Yeah, blast as in it feels like my eardrums were blasted out by your singing,” said a different voice.

  Jameson spun around.

  That voice! Could it be? Yes, it is. My Gabrielle, I have found you at last!

  Gabrielle was wandering with those other three girls. He didn’t know where they had gone, but it hardly mattered. Now was his chance!

  “I don’t think I ever asked,” the girl with blond hair started, “but where exactly do you live, Gabrielle?”

  “I live with Alex!”

  W-what? Jameson stumbled. My lovely Gabrielle lives with that fool, Alexander? H-how could this be? I know they were seen together, but there is no way a woman of her beauty would possibly live with a low-born peasant like him!

  As his thoughts went haywire, Jameson did remember his sister complaining about a beautiful girl living with Alexander… what felt like a lifetime ago. Was it possible that the girl Jasmine had been referring to was, in fact, Gabrielle? What sort of horrible nightmare must he have been born into?

  “Really? Alex? I knew that you two were close when you said that he was your fiancé, but I didn’t realize you two were already living under the same roof.”

  F-fiancé?! Jameson lost his footing and fell flat on his face. Getting on his hand and knees, he held his other hand to his bleeding nose, his mind suffering from denial. Does this mean that Alexander and my Gabrielle are engaged? Say it isn’t so!

  “Of course we’re living together,” Gabrielle said. “That’s what married couples do, right?”

  Jameson stood up and moved behind a wall, where he peered out and stared at the group. Two of the girls—Ryofo and Sheri, he thought their names were—looked at each other.

  “Well… I guess they do,” Ry-something began slowly, “but don’t you think you’re a little young to be getting married?”

  “I don’t think that at all,” Gabrielle said. “After all, if you love someone and want to stay with them forever, why wait until you’re older?”

  “Well…” Surri… something started, “… I guess that makes sense. You must really love the guy, huh?”

  Gabrielle agreed with a heart-searing smile. “I love Alex very much!”

  Ah, such a lovely smile, Jameson thought to himself. If only that smile were for me, it would be perfect.

  However, it wasn’t for him. It was for Alexander. That just would not do. There was no way he could allow his Gabrielle to remain with that boorish man. Yes, he, Jameson de Truante, the King of Seduction, would seduce his Gabrielle away from that boy!

  He continued to follow them, searching for an opening that he could use to get closer to Gabrielle.

  “So… what exactly do you like about him?” Ryoko asked. “I mean, Alex definitely isn’t a bad catch, but I’m curious to know what drew you to him.”

  “I think Alex would make a great boyfriend,” the girl with dark skin and raven hair said. Jameson couldn’t remember her name either. When all three girls turned to her, she blushed. “What I mean is… Alex might be destructive, and reckless, and he always leaps headlong into every dangerous situation without thinking… but he’s also reliable and kind and always willing to lend a hand to others. I think… any girl would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend… or a husband.”

  “Heh… what’s this?” Ryomo wore a sly grin. “Sticking up for your childhood friend? How cute.”

  “O-of course I’m sticking up for him. That’s what friends do!”

  “I don’t know what you people see in men,” Sherry said, spitting out the word “men” like it was poison.

  “Selene,” Gabrielle said, stopping the other girl and taking Selene’s hands into her own. “You know exactly how I feel, don’t you? You see Alex’s good sides, too.”

  The blush on Selene’s face deepened, though it was hard to tell because her skin was so dark. Jameson wrinkled his nose. Good side? Alex? What good side?

  “Alex found me when I was in trouble. He took me in and protected me. Even now, he continues to protect me.” Gabrielle grinned at Selene. “I met your mother, and she said that Alex is my knight in shining armor. That’s what I feel he is to me.”

  “Whoa…” the other three girls muttered. Rufio’s eyes were wide. “That was really deep. I guess you really do love the guy.”

  “Of course! Also, Alex is really good at inventing things,” Gabrielle added. “He and I have so much fun in his lab. It’s a blast.”

  “Uh, wait, so you invent stuff, too?” asked Shishi.

  “Uh-huh! Check it out!” Gabrielle swiped her hand in the air, and suddenly, appearing before them as if from thin air was a… mechanical dog? It stood on four legs, was made of metal, and had a muzzle-like face with large ears.

  What is that? Jameson wondered.

  “Uh… what is that?” Serracha asked.

  “This is Mr. Recycle Doggy version four-point-o,” Gabrielle explained cheerfully. “He eats garbage and turns it into energy. Here, watch.”

  Gabrielle pressed a button on Mr. Recycle Doggy’s head. The sound of servomotors was heard over the din of dozens of conversations. The dog’s mechanical ears seemed to twitch, and its eyes lit up, glowing a bright green. It turned around, looking at its surroundings, and then it looked up at Gabrielle.

  Ah, what an amazing invention! Truly, Gabrielle is an astounding genius to be capable of creating something so beautiful!

  “All right, Mr. Recycle Doggy, show them what you can do and clean up some trash!”

  Mr. Recycle Doggy responded to her command by searching the area. Jameson leaned forward from where he’d hidden behind a cylindrical recycler, eager to see what sort of wondrous action his Gabrielle’s invention would do.

  Then the dog’s eyes locked onto him.

  Its glowing green eyes, which seemed almost hungry.

  “Bark! Bark!”

  “Ah! Wait, Mr. Recycle Doggy version four-point-o! Where are you going?”

  “WAAAAA!!!!!”

  Jameson screamed like a little girl as the mechanical dog charged at him. Leaping to his feet, he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.

  Several hours later, a young couple would find him, unconscious and lying on the walkway, with a robotic dog chewin
g on what remained of his clothing.

  18

  Alex frowned as he wandered the aisles of the convenience store. Stores like these were remnants of the past. Humans were creatures of habit, stuck in their ways and not reticent to change.

  This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, Alex believed. If something worked, then there was no need to change it. Besides, there was something innately pleasant about wandering down aisles, searching for ingredients to make his sister and her friend a good meal.

  Aside from flour and baking powder, Alex also grabbed some tomatoes and seasoning for the sauce. He had a sauce maker at home—another invention of his own design that actually worked—and he wanted to use it again.

  Mars City relied solely on imports for their food. Because they weren’t an agricultural dome, they had no means of making their own produce. There were several domes located across Mars that had been terraformed for the sole purpose of farming and raising livestock and produce like vegetables. Alex knew this because one of his inventions was currently being used by several agricultural domes across the solar system. He still received a monthly royalty fee for it.

  As he was rung up at the register, Alex wondered what he should do with his life. It was a given that he planned on protecting Gabrielle. However, that was all he had right now. He wasn’t a cadet anymore, and becoming an officer was out of the question. His biggest dream, his desire to become a hero, was currently out of his reach.

  “That will be two-hundred credits,” the cashier, a young man with freckles and an acne problem, said. Alex paid the man and left with several bags of groceries.

  Of course, I’m protecting Gabrielle, but does that make me a hero?

  Alex didn’t know if protecting one person made him a hero. Part of the reason he went out of his way to protect everyone was because heroes saved everyone. That was just what they did.

  Maybe I should try to become more proactive? I have a lot of money. I could probably create awesome gadgets and use them to protect Mars City from the shadows.

  Of course, doing so would make him a vigilante. Was that the right way to go about it? Could he become a hero if he did something like that? What’s more, wouldn’t that put him in direct conflict with the law? If he became a vigilante, then Karen Kanzaki would no doubt take action against him. He didn’t want that.