It was a work in progress, and very fluidly situational based on the specific threat, but I thought we were already good enough to get started, as long as we didn’t end up facing a very large group of supervillains. Their powers were impressive, I wouldn’t want to find myself on the wrong side of Ella’s energy blasts, and while I could channel and defend from Gabriel’s lightning and even send it back his way, he could probably overpower me if it went on for too long.
We also discussed and critiqued our first performance, where things could have been better, and Aura joined that conversation and pointed out several things all the rest of us missed. It was a constant and evolving thing, training never really stopped.
If I’d been expecting potential clients to knock down our door first thing in the morning on our first day, I’d have been sorely disappointed. Fortunately, I knew better. It was mid-morning when I went down to the basement for the first time. Chris was setting up equipment, fabricating various kinds of small drones and supporting tech.
“Need help?”
The way he looked me over made wearing that suit totally worth it.
“I want to say yes, just to keep you down here,” he teased, “But I got it.”
I grinned, and I sat down on a chair that was out of the way.
“I’ll just keep you company then. Got everything you need?”
He nodded, “Not everything I want, but everything we need for a start. The rest can wait until we’re in the black. Have a good morning?”
“Fantastic, my whole body is sore.”
He smirked, “I’m very proud of my suit work.”
I blushed, and I rolled my eyes just to keep up the appearance of modesty. I don’t think I fooled him though, he knew I loved his attention.
I spent the rest of the morning with him basically chatting and twiddling my thumbs. I wanted to spend time with him, like I had the others that morning, and the company support was handled by Aura and my uncle. In short, until we had a job, my only real job was training which was finished by early mornings.
I found what he did fascinating, and his intelligence as sexy as his toned body, but I didn’t really understand it. I was an intelligent woman, did very well in school, but mad scientists were so far ahead of the rest of us in brain power it wasn’t comparable. I didn’t mind, no more than he minded that I could overpower him with my mind.
It was early that afternoon, when we got our first job.
Chapter Five
The coffee in my hand steamed slightly as I walked into the conference room and took a seat. The others all wandered in over the next few minutes. Aura had let us know we had our first contract, and we were all there for Jace to brief us.
Jace asked, “Anyone not familiar with Sarita James?”
I was not only familiar, but I had some of her music on my watchphone.
Sarita James was a famous pop star. She’d quickened two years ago, and her amazing and powerful singing voice was part of her sonic super abilities. Her range and power of voice was simply unmatched. She had dark brown hair, large chocolate eyes, and was extremely attractive around the face with soft cheekbones and perfect lightly tanned skin. Her body was somewhere between lush and athletic, extremely similar to mine in proportion, but she was taller and bustier.
Jace said, “I’ll take that as a no. She’s on tour right now, and she’ll be in town tomorrow. Her best friend and head of security, Kara Simkins, has some concerns for her safety while in Excelsior City. Sarita’s been getting some stalker love note e-mails and gifts from someone in this city, that has managed to keep his identity a secret from the authorities.”
That wasn’t easy to do, spoofing e-mails in this day and age, with sentient A.I.s on the job.
Chris said, “He’s probably a mad scientist, or he knows one that’s helping him.”
Jace nodded, “Kara told me she has the same suspicions. It’s very difficult to evade web traces of any kind, even for a mad scientist, and her label’s A.I. hasn’t had any luck backtracking them at all. Anyway, the job is two days, she’ll get in tomorrow afternoon, and she leaves forty-eight hours after that for her next city’s engagement. You’ll be in her presence almost constantly, from when she pulls up to the hotel in her tour bus, except during the actual concert when your backstage, and at the hotel suite she’s staying in you’ll be outside her door.”
I said, “We’ll take the first shift, you two okay with that? Two twelve-hour shifts each.”
Ella smirked, “You just want to see the concert, but yeah, we’ll take three am to three pm on both days.”
Lia grinned, and protested our innocence, badly, “Would we do that?”
I giggled.
Jace shook his head, “Let’s not underestimate this guy.”
“We’ll be careful. I’ll enjoy the music, but we’ll be too busy checking out everything else to watch the show.”
Jace nodded.
Chris said, “I should have enough drones done by then to saturate the arena, and to watch the hallways and entrances of the hotel from outside.”
There were laws against bugging hotel rooms, but drones were allowed in any public space of the hotel, and of course the entire arena save the dressing rooms and bathrooms were considered public areas and could be monitored by security drones.
“What kind of threats, can we see the e-mails?”
Jace nodded, and an email came up on the main screen. It wasn’t a death threat exactly, more a promise to steal her away so their love could be realized kind of thing. He went into some disturbing details I won’t share, about his plans once he had her locked away in their love-nest where he could keep her safe from the rest of the world. It was… horrifying actually, I think I’d have rather had a death threat if it was me. The guy was off his rocker and obsessed with Sarita. It was obvious they had a loving relationship in his mind, while also just as obviously he was a major nut-case who’d never even met her.
He clearly thought she should be thrilled, to be stolen away, locked up, and forced to submit to his love and desires.
Sonics weren’t weak supers on their own, and I knew Kara had some abilities as well. She was a projective empath, which was far more formidable than it sounded like, and extremely useful in picking out threats in a large crowd. Kara was a brunette as well, but with much lighter brown hair and blue eyes. She was also about my height, and thin and petite. She looked like a cute best friend and hanger on of the star, which probably just made her more effective at her job.
Point being, we weren’t guarding powerless people, we were just enhancing their security for a couple of days.
I was looking forward to meeting them, at the same time I needed to control my fan-girl instincts. I just hoped I wasn’t disappointed, and she didn’t turn out to be some vapid and selfish pop star spoiled by her own success. She seemed nice enough, in all the interviews I’d seen, but that was just her public face.
In the end, it didn’t matter what the truth was, it was the job and keeping her safe is what counted. Even if she was vapid and spoiled, she was still an innocent in this, and it was my dream and ambition to keep people safe, and to be a superheroine. Just not one that worked for the city and went on patrols every day.
The next day started out the same, with a workout and training session, followed by a shower and breakfast.
We also got a second job, this one for Chris specifically as the rest of us weren’t really involved, just aware of it. A local bank hired him at a minimal consultant fee to find any holes or vulnerabilities in their security systems and software. It wasn’t much money, but a part of the contract included a far more lucrative proviso that if he did find any shortfalls in their security, they’d pay him a lot to fix it.
It was around two-thirty that afternoon when Lia and I headed to the hotel, followed by a veritable fleet of drones in our wake controlled by Aura. It was actually the first time I was in public wearing my super-suit, and before long my image was all over the internet along wit
h Lia’s. I was getting a lot of attention in it, especially from the men, and while it made me a little self-conscious I could admit I was more like my mother than I’d thought. It was also kind of… heady.
I mean, I’d always been cute with attention getting curves, but I’d never stolen every eye in the room before, so to speak.
The press showed up as we did our initial run through of the hotel, to look for anything or anyone that looked out of place. The place checked out, and we had our surveillance outside her reserved suite and on all the hotel entrances from the outside before the tour bus even arrived.
Preparation was important for this kind of mission. There were several drones heading for the arena as well for the concert later that night.
The press was there for Sarita, but I wasn’t entirely sure they weren’t there for us too. A new superhero team in the city running a bodyguard and investigation business was local news. Of course, all the paparazzi were only there for Sarita, no doubt hoping to take an embarrassing or compromising picture of the young, beautiful, and popular music star.
Vultures.
The bus pulled up in front of the hotel, and I kept my awareness diffuse even as we moved to greet them coming off the bus.
Sarita was dressed in a pair of casual jeans and a blouse that was designer and probably cost more than the tour bus she rode in on. Kara wore jeans as well, with a cute thin light blue sweater top, but her eyes were sharp and searching as she took us in. Both of them had a single rolling luggage bag.
The bus door closed, and the bus drove off, probably with their support people to get the arena set up with their equipment for the concert later that night.
I said, “Amber Morris, with Dynamic Investigations and Security Consultants. This is Lia Anderson. We’ll be your shadows for the next twelve hours when we’ll be relieved by another team.”
Sarita smiled, but it didn’t really reach her eyes. I didn’t read into that too much, it didn’t mean she was a fake, it just meant she was being polite and acting for the cameras.
“Good, I’m sure your presence will make Kara feel better,” she said in a gentle dulcet tone, and then looked over to Kara.
Kara gave a slight and subtle nod.
No doubt she’d checked us both out with her empathy, to make sure we were trustworthy and safe. I didn’t blame her, she’d hired us sight unseen, on our opening day, after all. This was an important job, not just to keep her safe which was reason enough, but our first customer’s review and comments about our service and competency could make us or break us. Especially from one of the most popular music artists in America right now.
No pressure. I was obviously lying to myself, since given our first case was so high profile that it could make or break our business.
Kara said, “Let’s go in, we’ll go over our itinerary for the next two days in detail up in the room.”
I nodded, “It’s all clear.”
Lia led the way inside, while I lingered for a moment then took up the rear as we moved into the hotel. The hotel really was posh, one of the best in the city, and it wasn’t long before she had a room card-key and we headed up the elevator.
She hadn’t gotten the top floor, but the two-bedroom suite we entered was richly appointed and luxurious. It had a full kitchen, large living room with couches and the latest in holographic entertainment. It also had a spacious bathroom as well as a second bathroom in the master bedroom of the suite, as well as full wall one-way tinted windows overlooking the city’s skyline. The couches were all leather, and all the lamps were crystal.
It was almost too decadent, but then my tastes ran on simpler lines.
Sarita blew out a breath, and she collapsed on the couch once she verified that we had privacy. The smile she gave us then was far more genuine, reaching her eyes, and I wondered if it was just the pressure of presenting herself to the press that had caused the last one to be fake.
“I hope we won’t have any trouble, usually these letters turn out to be harmless and not a true threat. Just some sad sack’s lonely wishes.”
Kara nodded, “True, but this guy is a ghost, and that makes me nervous.”
Sarita smirked, “You worry too much, but I admit I feel safer already. Love the suits, and I’m pleasantly surprised that you’re both women and my age.”
Kara said, “They’re also fans. They might start squealing any minute.”
I snorted, then reluctantly nodded.
“She’s not wrong, except for the squealing part.”
Sarita blushed, “Thanks. It’s still strange to me at times. It’s superheroines like you that are the true inspiration.”
Lia said with genuine admiration, “Thank you, but don’t underestimate your music. We keep them safe which is important, but you feed their souls.”
Kara nodded in agreement, and although she looked like she wanted to, Sarita didn’t argue.
As much as I’d have loved getting to know Sarita, because it looked like she wasn’t the cliché spoiled brat behind closed doors I’d half feared, we weren’t there to be her friend.
“You mentioned your itinerary?”
Kara said, “We have the concert tonight, but tomorrow is a break in the schedule until we leave for our next city, about forty-eight hours from now. We’d normally have to leave earlier, but our next concert is in New York city which is like a half hour away. Tomorrow afternoon we have some interviews lined up, and tomorrow night we plan to get dinner out, and if possible, she wants to go dancing. Otherwise we’ll be in the room, the limo, or the arena.”
Sarita said, “It’s very possible to go dancing.”
Kara rolled her eyes. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they’d been arguing about it, and that Kara thought it too big a risk.
Sarita shrugged, and said, “I’ll be in disguise. A wig and makeup so no one can recognize me, though that won’t help very much if my local security are in super suits and standing out.”
“We can get around that I think. The suit will look like leggings if we throw a conforming short-skirted dress over it. The kind that would be wicked without leggings. We can’t discard them entirely, since we’ll need them on if we have to defend you or get you to safety.”
Lia nodded in agreement.
Kara ordered room service once we had it all worked out, then they both got in the shower to get ready for their night at the arena. To be clear, separately, Sarita in the bedroom shower and Kara out here in the suite bathroom. They were friends, not lovers.
Lia said, “Not that it matters, but I like them.”
I grinned, “True, I bet we won’t be able to say that about all our clients.”
Lia nodded.
I got the impression she’d resisted the fame going to her head because she truly did admire superheroines, and maybe felt like she’d let herself down a bit by taking this road in life, for whatever reason. That she wasn’t wearing a suit of her own merely out of a quirk of fate, her sonic power not powerful enough perhaps to take that path.
I could be wrong, I’d just met her, but I could tell she’d meant it when she’d said we were the true heroes in this life. So far, I thought she was pretty down to earth, humble even.
Lia and I kept the chatting at a minimum, and just kept an eye on things. There were no warnings in our HUDs at all, but we wouldn’t let our guard down, not even in the hotel room which we had pretty locked down and secure.
They both came out in cute and simple dresses. I knew she’d be wearing something far more risqué for the show, but she’d change into that outfit in her dressing room at the arena when they did her makeup. They must’ve had their schedule down to a science, because neither looked surprised when less than a minute later room service arrived with their dinner.
Sarita said, “My grandmother grew up here you know, she was in a local band and played at the same arena I’m going to play tonight in a battle of the bands,” she blushed, “This is probably a stupid question, but I don’t suppose you know Death
’s Mistress? She saved my grandmother that night, I wouldn’t even exist but for her. It was back when the city still thought she was a murderous runaway power, before the SAB was shut down. She was fierce and terrifying, but in hindsight in a protective way.
“It’s my Grams favorite story, though she doesn’t talk about all the other death’s that night. I’d love to meet her.”
I could hardly believe Sarita was fangirling my grandmother. At the same time, I could hardly give grams a call and invite her over, since my grams was officially a raven-haired woman in her public hidden identity. It was pretty much an open secret in the hero community, if not discussed at all, but she was still wanted for murder.
Technically speaking.
Chances are she’d be acquitted, I doubted the prosecutor could find twelve people in the city who didn’t love her, but better to just avoid the whole mess.
Lia said, “We can get her a message, as to if she’d show up, I have no idea.”
I agreed, and I put Aura on it.
Chapter Six
The sun was low in the sky as the four of us slipped out the hotel’s back entrance, and the three of us got into the limo while Lia and some drones flew overwatch. We’d decided it was the safest way to do it, if we were attacked in route. I’d be able to teleport our clients to safety and pop right back to help Lia take Sarita’s stalker down. I wouldn’t be able to do that from outside the limo, at least not fast enough.
I wasn’t overly worried about a random supervillain encounter, but I hadn’t ruled out the possibility either. It really wasn’t likely. Supervillains were thieves on the whole, and they didn’t attack musical artists on route to their concert. Still, there were some that got off on the challenge of fighting supers, so they might attack just for the fun of it when they see Lia, but that was rare.
Wraith: Origins of Supers: Book Three Page 4