Heroic

by H D Forth

  I offered him a hand. After waiting a tentative moment, he leaned forward and took it. He shook it vigorously, which made me smile.

  I took a moment to control myself, before levering up to my feet. It was more of an effort in my new body. I nodded to the father. “That’s a good kid you’ve got yourself there.”

  “I know,” He said, a fond smile on his face. He turned to Arthur. “I told you he would like it.” The kid simply hid his face in the man’s leg, causing him to chuckle. “My name is Richard, by the way,” He said, looking back at me and reaching out to shake a hand.

  Still a little flustered from Arthur's gift, I juggled for a moment with the flash drive, before freeing my right hand to shake his. "Still undecided on my name," I replied.

  He smiled, “Well it was nice to meet you.” Then he took Arthur’s hand and walked away. I simply stood there, for a moment trying to gather myself.

  Somewhere along the line, I had stopped pretending to be a hero, running around in a duster and actually become one. At least to that one kid, and that was good enough for me.

  Chapter Ninety-Eight

  I practically jumped up the stairs when at Headquarters. Alright so maybe I didn’t quite jump up the stairs, it was more like a… quick step… followed by an incredible groan from the wood. Then a bunch of slow steps to make sure that the stairs could actually hold my new weight.

  Then it was on wards to wherever I had left my ’suit’. Suit was an overstatement, I hadn't even got a logo, though I wasn't sure I was going to have one of those.

  Worse, I hadn’t even decided on a name yet. There had been some friendly discussion. Technosius for example, I had bandied pretty hard for that one for a couple days.

  Val had been a staunch defender of Vibratoid. However, she had come up with after getting a closeup ‘examination’ from my hand, which made it suspect to say the least.

  Actually, I didn't think this one could. I checked, it couldn't. Kani hadn't moved everything over yet. I guess it would just have to wait. Val wasn't going to like that.

  I paused, pulling on the shirt as I glimpsed myself in the mirror. Physically I hadn't changed at all since I had changed frames, especially now that my skin had grown in. Even the scar on my left forearm had grown back, I assumed I must’ve accidentally stored the data somewhere, since it appeared before I brought it back. It was a long jagged scar that ran a complete circle around my arm.

  Madam Mireaux had said, that my arm had practically been amputated when I had been found. I hadn’t had any movement in my arm until I was 4. It was another few years of constant therapy before it worked as well as my right arm. I was just lucky that I’m not left handed, I guess.

  But the problem wasn't that my scar had grown back. When I had first fully assimilated into the aluminum frame, it had been a struggle and a half to get the scar to manifest, this time I hadn't even noticed. Odd.

  I slipped the shirt on, tightened the belt on my pants, then locked the mask in place.

  I calmly walked into the bedroom, out onto the balcony. Is today gonna be the day? I thought, looking over the railing. Next time. Then I lifted first one leg over, then the next. I had just lowered myself, when I realized that the railing might not be able to support my body’s new weight.

  Tentatively, I let my weight settle on to the railing. It held strong. I let out a sigh of relief, then cautiously lowered myself as far down towards the ground as I could, until I hung from the balcony itself.

  My breath sped up for a second, before I manged ton make my fingers let go. I dropped to the floor. It was only about 120 - 130 centimeters, but it was enough to make my breath catch and heart race.

  I didn't like heights okay, sue me. I’m a hero that doesn't like heights, and I’ve done well so far

  ***

  I hadn't been out walking the streets in my area for more than a few minutes before I saw someone walking purposefully towards me. He had a child with him, though the kid seemed to be hiding himself behind his father.

  The man was average height. Grey, blue eyes. He had a well cared for full beard, that was a slightly darker blond than that of his hair. He was in his late twenties, early thirties, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a button up shirt, that had all but the top button closed.

  Behind him, hiding what little amount of he could of himself behind what I presumed to be his father’s legs was a little kid. He seemed oddly familiar, though I couldn't quite place him.

  I had turned around and stopped walking when I noticed them. They too had stopped walking. So now we were just standing awkwardly in the middle of the street, the occasional passerby walking around us.

  I let out a little cough, “Before this gets too awkward, maybe I should introduce myself…” I said. As if that wasn't already too late.

  “No, no.” The man replied. “Its alright, we already know who you are.” Well,. That’s a new one, didn't think anyone would ever bring a child to fight a hero.

  Just as I started tensing up, getting ready for a fight, the father gestured to the kid attached to his legs. “In fact you have already helped my son, Arthur.”

  I instantly felt a little scummy and relaxed, hopefully without being noticed. I crouched down, lowering myself to head height with the child. I took a second, but then I recognized him.

  If anything he now seemed more afraid, than when the bully had taken his bike. “Hey kid,” I said. The same way I talked to a Madam Mireaux’s cat, Tinkers, when neighborhood celebrations got too loud. The little thing had always been more afraid than was good for it. “How’s the bike?”

  The kid seemed to relax some. I noticed the hands digging into his fathers knees relaxing some, and Artur let a little smile onto his face. “It’s great.” He said quietly.

  I smiled, I knew he couldn't see it, the mask and everything, but I believed he could hear it in my voice. “That’s awesome.”

  He edged around his dad’s legs, before reaching out to give me something he had clutched in one of his small hands. It was a flash drive. I held my hand out under his, letting him drop it into it.

  “What’s this ?” I asked, curiously. I examined the drive with my eyes. I didn't probe it immediately with my power, since I wanted the kid to have the chance to explain.

  Arthur blushed and retreated behind his father, clearly flustered. “It’s alright,” His father, said patting his head. “You can tell him.”

  “I made a presentation about you for class.” Arthur said so quietly, that it barely registered above a whisper.

  “Wow.” I replied, just as quietly. I cleared my suddenly thick throat, my suddenly thick speaker, whatever. “That’s really nice of you. Thank you.” I managed to get out.

  I offered him a hand. After waiting a tentative moment, he leaned forwards and took it. He shook it vigorously, which made me smile.

  I took a moment to control myself, before levering up to my feet. It was more of an effort in my new body. I nodded to the father. “That’s a good kid you’ve got yourself there.”

  “I know,” He said, a fond smile on his face. He turned to Arthur. “I told you he would like it.” The kid simply hid his face in the man’s leg, causing him to chuckle. “My name is Richard, by the way,” He said, looking back at me and reaching out to shake a hand.

  Still a little flustered from Arthur’s gift, I juggled for a moment with the the flash drive, before freeing my right hand to shake his. “Still undecided on my name.” I replied.

  He smiled, “Well it was nice to meet you.” Then he took Arthur’s hand and walked away. I simply stood there, for a moment trying to gather myself.

  Somewhere along the line, I had stopped pretending to be a hero, running around in a duster and actually become one. At least to that one kid, and that was good enough for me.

  Chapter Ninety-Nine

  I had gotten to work a little early and managed to handle a short coffee run. It was more habit than actual need. I still had very little use for the points my power rewarded
me, and the monetary rewards only came to about the same price as the coffee, once I’d picked it up and given it away for free.

  It was just a nice feeling too, to do something for someone else. And life was great, if not share a little joy, when it was great, what was going to happen when it wasn't?

  After work I had jogged to headquarters, throwing myself on the couch, which then proceeded to creak ominously, and I decided not to do that again. Then I had wrapped myself up in a cocoon of blankets and take a nice long nap.

  Kani was supposed to be coming in later that day after she grabbed a nap in her own apartment. It was easier for her that way since she lived so close to her work.

  I returned to reality to the sound of a shoe tapping against the floor. I slowly blinked my eyes open, giving them a moment or two to adjust to the light in the room.

  Kani was standing over me, hands on hips, tapping her foot on the floor. I didn't know exactly what, but something tipped me off. She wasn't happy, in fact, she seemed quite angry.

  “You broke the couch.” She grumbled.

  Oh, that. "I didn't," I said getting up, without disentangling myself from the blankets. "Look, it's straight all the way, and…" I noticed something metallic and broken sticking out the front of the couch. I bent down and shoved it back into the sofa, so only the hole—which really wasn’t that bad—could be seen. Then gave her my best sheepish smile.

  She sighed, walked away. I heard her footsteps retreating to downstairs. I hadn't really considered the consequences that the couch was broken. Kani could fix it, I mean if she could build what was effectively a robot, then she could fix it, right?

  Downstairs, Kani was sitting at her work table, computer up and running. “I’ll fix it,” I said, as I entered the living room. I didn't mumble ‘If I can’ under my breath, but it was a real struggle.

  She just snorted at me.

  I scoffed. "How hard can it be? I have both the Web and super strength on my side. I can do it."

  She had the gall to send a dubiously look my way, then really rubbing it in, she looked over at the dinner table. Specifically, at the chair, I had tried to fix. I could do it, I’d show her.

  “What more needs done?” I asked, walking over to her. “I thought we already were fully connected.” I gestured between the PC and me, while I looked at her, to make sure that I only meant the PC and me, not us.

  I thought I noticed a slight blush, but it could also have been my ego, rearing its head. "You are." She replied. "We're just going to test it now before you head out." I nodded and looked at the computer.

  She opened the monitor program, which brought up a series of differing options. She clicked on Live Monitoring. A new window popped up. It was a live stream of what I was looking at.

  "Wow," I said, waving my hand in front of my eyes. "The delay can't be more than a quarter of a second."

  For some reason that caused her to wince. "Yea, I know it's not that good, especially for live operations, but its the best we can do for now. Later I might be able to get us a custom transmitter-receiver and get it down to less than a millisecond."

  "Wow," I replied, looking at her. It seemed that she hadn't come prepared to work. Instead, she was wearing a knee length blue skirt, a blue shirt, and a blue cardigan. The top swung just low enough to reveal a bit of cleavage.

  She was currently looking at me, and I figured I was safe. I had found that it was often difficult for people to detect precisely where I was looking since their eyes weren't at wide-angle lenses. This meant that I could stare down her cleavage and she wouldn't be able to tell.

  “Yea,” She replied. I could still see her face in my peripheral and I made sure to occasionally look at it, I mean her. It had been a while since Val and I had had a chance, okay. “It’s pretty wild, though that is…”

  It took me a second to notice that she had stopped talking. Then another second to realize why, I flickered my gaze to the computer. For a single moment I saw her cleavage on the screen, then it turned to the computer screen. Then my gaze shifted to hers.

  She picked up the computer and turned towards me. She raised her gaze to mine and lifted a single arching eyebrow.

  I let out a little cough, "I don't suppose you could consider it a compliment." Her eyes narrowed. "I- I me- mean you are imminently lovely to look at." I stammered.

  “If you are done ogling me, I would like if we could finish testing the system so you could get a move on, and act like a hero, not a pervert.”

  We did, and I did.

  Chapter One Hundred

  I had gotten to work a little early, and managed to handle a little coffee run. It was more habit than actual need. I still had very little use for the points my power rewarded me, and the monetary rewards was only came to about the same price as the coffee, once I’d picked it up and given it away for free.

  It was just a nice feeling too, to do something for someone else. And life was great, if not share a little joy, when it was great, what was going to happen when it wasn't?

  After work I had jogged to headquarters, thrown myself on the couch, which then proceeded to creak ominously, and I decided not to do that again. Then I had proceeded to wrap myself up in a cocoon of blankets and take a nice long nap.

  Kani was supposed to be coming in later that day, after she grabbed a nap in her own apartment. It was easier for her that way since, she lived so close to her work.

  I returned to reality to the sound of a shoe tapping against the floor. I slowly blinked my eyes open, giving them a moment or two to adjust to the light in the room.

  Kani was standing over me hands on hips, tapping her foot on the floor. I didn't know exactly what, but something tipped me off. She wasn’t happy, in fact she seemed quite angry.

  “You broke the couch.” She grumbled.

  Oh that. “I didn’t,” I said getting up, without disentangling myself from the blankets. “Look, it’s straight all the way, and…” I noticed something metallic and broken sticking out the front of the couch. I bend down and shoved it back into the couch, so only the hole—which really wasn’t that bad—could be seen. Then gave her my best sheepish smile.

  She sighed, walked away. I heard her footsteps retreating to downstairs. I hadn't really considered the consequences that the couch was broken. Kani could fix it, I mean if she could build what was effectively a robot, then she could fix it, right?

  Downstairs, Kani was sitting at her work table, computer up and running. “I’ll fix it,” I said, as I entered the living room. I didn't mumble ‘If I can’ under my breath, but it was a real struggle.

  She just snorted at me.

  I scoffed. “How hard can it be? I have both he Internet and super strength on my side. I can do it.”

  She had the gall to send a dubiously look my way, then really rubbing it in, she looked over at the dinner table. Specifically at the chair, I had tried to fix. I could do it, I’d show her.

  “What more needs done?” I asked, walking over to her. “I thought we already were fully connected.” I gestured between the PC and me, while I looked at her, to make sure that I only meant the PC and me, not us.

  I thought I noticed a slight blush, but it could also have been my ego, rearing its head. “You are.” She replied. “We’re just going to test it now, before you head out.” I nodded, and looked at the computer.

  She opened the monitor program, which brought up a series of differing options. She clicked on Live Monitoring. A new window popped up. It was a alive screen of what I was looking at.

  “Wow.” I said, waving my hand in front of my eyes. “The delay can’t be more than a quarter of a second.”

  For some reason that caused her to wince. “Yea, I know its not that good, especially for live operations, but its the best we can do for now. Later I might be able to get us a custom transmitter receiver and get it down to less than a millisecond.”

  “Wow.” I replied, looking at her. It seemed that she hadn't come prepared to work. Instead she w
as wearing a knee length blue skirt, a blue shirt and blue cardigan. The top swung just low enough to reveal a bit of cleavage.

  She was currently looking at me and I figured I was safe. I had found that it was often difficult for people to detect exactly where I was looking, since their eyes weren't at wide-angle lenses. This meant that I could stare down her cleavage and she wouldn't be able to tell.

  “Yea,” She replied. I could still see her face in my peripheral and I made sure to occasionally look at it, I mean her. It had been a while since Val and I had had a chance, okay. “It’s pretty wild, though that is…”

  It took me a second to notice that she had stopped to talking. Then another second to realize why, I flickered my gaze to the computer. For a single moment I saw her cleavage on the screen, then it turned to the computer screen. Then my gaze turned to hers.