Bones of the Past (Villains' Code Book 2)

by Drew Hayes

  A rogue memory floated up, and Tori began to dig through what one might have taken to be a random stack of junk. While most of her possessions had been purged by the guild during her recruitment, they’d been smart enough to save the essentials. Tori’s photo of her parents that sat at the far end of the lab, watching her work, was one such item. Another was a leather-bound book with three different mechanical traps built in. After some searching, she produced the tome, walking it over to the desk as she disengaged the various security measures. When she’d built them, they’d seemed airtight. A few months with the guild, however, and she couldn’t believe how lax these safeguards were. Another task for the list, though much further down than the more pressing matters.

  Tori perused the pages, looking through her own handwriting as she scoured for the formula in question. Finally, she found the spot she was looking for: a chemical compound created by some meta-tech dealer out in Oklahoma. The substance adhered to skin on contact, creating burning, itching, numbness—and that was assuming none got into the eyes. It might have been the new tear gas, except that the effects only lasted a few minutes before fading entirely. Plus, the fact that it had been cooked in a trailer and sold in old milk jugs meant that not many folks had buying opportunities.

  This was one of the many tidbits Tori had scooped up in her years on the road. She was, after all, a thief on top of being an inventor, and there was no sense in recreating something when another person had kindly done the work for her. It was a good thing she’d stolen this one, too, since the original creator had died in an entirely predictable lab explosion. There would need to be testing to make this on a large scale, both in the formula itself and the effects; however, that would have to occur in guild facilities. Tori felt reasonably sure her power would protect her from an explosion, but the lab and building above wouldn’t be so lucky.

  In the meantime, she could start work on a small sample and the aerosolization device before today’s meeting. Getting an idea of the mandatory schematics would inform the device’s size and shape, which would have to be accounted for in the aesthetics phase. There was a lot more to consider than when she’d designed her Hephaestus gear, but Tori found she didn’t mind. After months of training, testing, villains, and capes, it felt nice to be back on an old-fashioned build. That it presented new challenges only made it all the more enticing.

  Grabbing her tools, Tori sat down at her worktable with a new, hungry gleam in her eyes. She had an invention taking shape in her mind, one that would only fade when she’d formed it in the real world. Time to fire up the metaphorical forge and start proving why she’d chosen her codename.

  Chapter 43

  “The most important thing you need to understand is that this is not a test.” Those were the first words they heard after the metal container mercifully came to a stop and they were allowed to file out. What had greeted them was a harsh, rocky terrain that constantly shifted in elevation. It looked as if they were in the foothills of some mountainous region, one that had not been particularly touched by civilization. A few of them noticed the fact that all nearby trees in the area had been cleared out, but most had their attention stolen by the floating form of Lodestar, who spoke once they were all emerged.

  “A test implies that what matters most is the pass or fail, that the results come first. That is not what we’re doing today. This is an evaluation above all else. What matters to me is how you think, act, fight, flee, and generally cope with challenges as I throw them at you. Some of you might very well fail the task and still be moved up based on the skills displayed. Conversely, it’s possible to succeed so recklessly that you prove yourself not ready for added responsibilities. This is just a structure to let me see what you can do. Still, with all of that said, success sure doesn’t hurt your case, so I expect everyone to give it their all.”

  In a blur, she vanished, reappearing with a large hunk of stone grabbed from elsewhere on the mountain. Before their eyes, she ran her hands along it, smoothing off the rough surfaces, shaping it into a sphere with casual ease. Her position in the sky shifted higher and further back; she was moving so everyone could see her.

  Once the rock was smoothed, a task that took only seconds, she held it aloft. “This is the target. About a hundred and fifty pounds of stone. Your task is to get it away from me. There are more complex versions of this same drill we use at every level, so I’d learn it well. Sometimes, we have actual targets that have to be treated like they were alive, all the way up to human dummies that can report injuries. Today is the simplest version, though. Get the rock. Everyone, stay put for a moment.”

  With a toss, Lodestar hurled the stone straight up into the air. Once it was gone, she zipped further off, to an area with several rocky outcroppings. Floating higher, a pair of beams fired from her hands as she spun around in place. Once the searing lights faded, they could all make out a near perfect circle that had been scorched into the ground, even from so far off. The trails of smoke rising from the rocks certainly helped.

  Satisfied with her work, Lodestar floated back over to where her charges were waiting.

  “The rules are straightforward: take the rock out of the circle. I don’t care what powers you use—nothing is off-limits—but you have to make physical contact with the target before manipulating it. Conflict is the point of this, so tricks from the sidelines won’t tell me much. You can come on your own, or as teams, but before you deci—”

  Lodestar paused to catch the rock she’d tossed up, the stone sphere having fully completed its airborne journey. “Sorry, as I was saying, before you decide, there are some factors you need to know from my end. So far as base physical attributes go, I’m going to match the best of what your teams offer. That means I’ll move as quick as the fastest members, hit as hard as the strongest—you get the idea. The caveat being that I’m obviously not going to seriously injure you. I also can’t exactly hold back my own toughness—not that it would be smart to, anyway—but I’ll try to react to attacks as if I’m your hardiest member. That means, the more team members you add, the higher my different levels could be. Past that, I’m only going to use flight and energy blasts. I want you to have a sincere challenge, not an insurmountable one.”

  She didn’t use her super-speed this time. Instead, Lodestar flew purposefully to her seared circle, dropping down to deposit the stone in the dead middle. Now that they were looking at the spot with analytical eyes, a few of the capes realized she’d chosen an area with lots of natural features that facilitated stealth. They had the ability to attempt surprise, or could come in swinging.

  Once the rock was in place, she zoomed back, taking a lower position this time that allowed for a more casual volume.

  “Here’s how it’s going to go: I’ll give you ten minutes to decide your teams and your order. When I call for time, you tell me who’s coming. They have ten minutes to try to get the stone. At the end, we clean up, and I’ll call for the next group. We go like that until everyone has had their shot.”

  She was met with understanding nods. For people who had been doing actual superhero work already, this was an easy enough concept to grasp. There was still one more component to drive home, however. Sometimes, it was a tough sell; other occasions went easier. Lodestar had no idea what to expect from this group—she’d never evaluated one that had survived an attempted rebellion. It would be a learning experience on both ends.

  “One last thing,” Lodestar added, softening her voice carefully. “As I mentioned, I can’t turn down my own levels of invulnerability, so I want you all to come at me full force. Fight like your life is on the line, because that very well might end up being the case. Even those of you who hadn’t joined us yet saw the Ridge City Riots. I try to always choose compassion over violence, but if someone has decided that only one of you is walking away, I know which I’d prefer to see victorious. Give me all you’ve got. I want to know the limits of your abilities, and how you push them.”

  Something like mischief
danced in her eyes as she gave them a knowing smile. “Besides, this job is all about restraint, control, and constant awareness of how much force you’re using. It’s not often you get a chance to go all out. I bet a few of you will be glad for the chance to show what you’re truly capable of.” She lifted her arm and tapped the empty spot on her left wrist where a watch would normally go. “Ten minutes starts now. Figure out your teams and your order.”

  With a casual grace, Lodestar floated off, back to her circle, where she drifted down and landed on the rock, taking a seat to wait. The moment she touched down, chaos burst forth among the rookies as they hurriedly scrambled to figure out plans.

  Cyber Geek, Medley, Cold Shoulder, and Hat Trick all grouped up immediately on the far end of the metal container. Hopefully, Lodestar either couldn’t hear the discussions or was choosing not to listen, but it still wasn’t wise to give strategic hints to the other teams. They formed a huddle, minimizing the distance any individual voice had to travel.

  “Quick rundown: if she’s matching our top stats, that means she’ll be as quick and strong as Medley, right?” Cyber Geek had no idea if this was really the best place to start, but the firm time limit meant jumping in was better than worrying about efficiency.

  “I think my giant ice-armor form might hit harder,” Cold Shoulder pointed out. “Potentially be tougher as well, at least up front. I can’t match Medley’s recovery.”

  “Farts, I forgot about that,” Hat Trick muttered. “So even if we technically hit hard enough to ‘hurt’ her, she won’t have to sell it for long.”

  The complexities of Lodestar’s rules were readily becoming apparent. Teams, normally their greatest strength, also now came with liability. For every added member, they risked increasing how much power Lodestar could use in the fight. On the upside, since most of the physical strength was concentrated on Medley and Cold Shoulder, it did present a natural formation.

  “We’re all thinking the obvious, right? Medley and Cold Shoulder take melee to distract her, Hat Trick and I make a run for the rock?” Cyber Geek could see the lack of surprise on their faces; they’d all arrived at the same conclusion. “Unfortunately, obvious means Lodestar will see it coming, too. We need to have some curves to throw her.”

  Hat Trick lit up, her wide eyes practically shining. “I could put the target in my hat—get rid of the weight entirely, plus I can control it.” Forehead creased in effort, she focused, and the top hat perched on her head lifted up a few inches before dropping back down. This was a new talent she’d found recently, and while it wouldn’t be zipping around the battlefield, a floating hat might very well prove useful.

  “The problem is, she knows about all the skills we’ve shown so far. Our best shot is something new,” Cyber Geek said. Hat Trick’s idea did stir something in his mind, a curiosity he’d held but never put to the test. Firing up the menu in his vision, Cyber Geek began to zip through his options. After Tori’s kidnapping, he’d been putting more effort into utility items, and one in particular leapt to mind. The Self-Swap from Battle Buds would be perfect, except it only lasted for ten seconds.

  “I have an idea, but we need to test something first.” Motioning for his team to lean in, Cyber Geek explained the loose collection of half-thoughts they would optimistically refer to as a plan.

  This was an optimal opportunity. Beth and Juan were at the store, leaving Rick and his mother alone in the house. No work to steal her attention, no upcoming meetings to suddenly run off to. If he started this conversation, her excuses to stop it were limited. At this point, Rick was no longer sure what he was expecting. After several days, the thought of oceans and examining old photos no longer triggered attacks, but the knot of unease in his gut refused to yield.

  Sitting down at the kitchen table across from her, Rick tried to see his mother as a person, rather than the role she filled in his life. Janet was working on a crossword, a favorite weekend activity. Given her levels of self-assurance and intelligence, would she really get mixed up with someone who had that much to hide? Maybe—if she hadn’t known the whole score up front. Perhaps that was even what had soured their marriage in the first place… which meant he might be about to blunder into a very sensitive topic.

  Rick shook the notion from his head. He was preparing to accuse his parents of lying to him for his entire life—it would be a sensitive topic regardless of how it was phrased. The smart move would be to walk away. Except that Rick was not only the son of Ivan; Janet’s blood ran in his veins as well. Her same obsessive need to solve a complex formula burned through his mind, refusing to let go of the mystery now that it had properly taken hold. Bad as things might get, he had to push forward.

  That realization was almost freeing, in a way. He didn’t have to worry about finding the right angle of approach; this was going to be a shitshow no matter how he went in. May as well cut to it, then.

  “I want to know about Dad.”

  Janet glanced up from the crossword, a brief squint of confusion as she noticed the serious expression on her son’s face. “Did you have a particular topic in mind? Might be best to speak to him directly.”

  “I’d try that, if I thought he’d give me the truth.”

  The confusion faded from her eyes as she quickly adjusted to the situation, her Saturday afternoon ease slipping away. “I see. What is it that you’re concerned he would lie to you about?”

  This was it, the edge of the cliff. Once Rick started down this road, there wasn’t a way back. Whatever he learned, he’d have to live with it. No matter if, or how, it changed things with his parents.

  “Well, for example, there’s the fact that he spent his whole life saying he has no family, only for Vendallia to list one of the other employees as his niece.”

  Rick waited for his mother to be shocked at the revelation. Instead, she merely threw him a gaze of pure consternation. “Oh, is that what this is all about?”

  “You knew?”

  “Of course I knew. He had to reach out in case anyone checked with me for confirmation,” Janet replied. “For goodness’ sake, Rick, you’re making a conspiracy out of simple charity. That girl was on her own. Life had given her a real kicking, and Ivan saw potential. They fudged the relationship to get her an internship so she could find her footing. You aren’t the one your father lied to.”

  It certainly wasn’t a perfect story, opening more questions than it answered, but it did sound far more like the Ivan Rick had always known. Even the other evidence, such as Ivan getting lost in his old neighborhood, suddenly felt flimsy under Janet’s reassuring gaze. His will might have broken, allowing himself to believe the lie, if not for those damn flashes from the beach.

  “Okay. That explains one thing, Mom. One of a thousand inconsistencies. He’s never been to the places he’s supposedly lived. There are no pictures of him before you were married. I’m not even sure his age lines up—for a man in his forties, he sure doesn’t seem to be showing it.”

  “He’s a private man with a bad memory and a good metabolism. What are you digging for here?” Janet was starting to look more concerned than anything. Rick knew he was feeding that, he could already feel the sheen of sweat on the back of his neck.

  “Answers. I want to know why my own dad has been hiding something. What’s so bad that he couldn’t even tell us? Why do I keep having these horrible flashes from some damn beach?”

  It was the last one that landed. Until then, Janet’s façade had remained firmly in place, but at the word “beach,” the mask slipped away. He could see it then, laid bare. The horror in her eyes, the terror at the idea he remembered. Something had happened.

  To her credit, Janet didn’t bother trying to reaffix her false expression. Instead, she walked around the table, pulling her son close in a display of affection that left him immediately uncomfortable.

  “You were never supposed to see that. We tried to spare you, but the block works based on desire. When you wanted to forget, you could. If you keep tryin
g to remember, you will.”

  “I don’t need a hug.” Rick tried to squirm away, only to be gripped tighter. “I need to know what the hell happened.”

  She clung for a few minutes longer, then returned to her side of the table. “I’m not so sure about that. Yes, Rick, something bad once happened at a beach. Yes, there is more to our family than meets than eye. And yes, your father has secrets he’s not shared with his children. But most of what you know is true. Ivan and I are your parents, we love you more than the world itself, and we would do anything to keep you safe. Even what you know about Ivan is true. No blood relations, works a middle-management job, all very real. None of it was false. There were just more truths than what you were given. Sometimes, knowing more makes you miserable. You think you want those memories back, but you’ll wish they were gone as soon as you succeed. You think you want to know the whole truth about this family, yet if I were to tell you, would that really make things better?”

  For a moment, he’d been able to delude himself, thinking his mother had been duped as well. Hearing her speak, it was clear as could be what the actual truth was. “Whatever this is, you’re in on it, too. You’ve been helping him lie.”

  “Watch it, young man. I’m still your mother.” Her voice was momentarily firm, though it was short-lived despite her mounting frustration. “We both know you came to me with this because you think I’ll flip on Ivan and give up the goods. What you fail to understand is that it has never been your father that I was protecting. It was you and your sister. Some truths can’t be unlearned. They burrow in and chew you up from the inside.”