The ECM master alarm screams at me as my number three ZPFM flips into high gear, protecting the suit from the ECM. The team’s comms were set to power down right before and come back on a few seconds later; they should be fine.
Behemoth is beginning her attack on the White House.
At three hundred feet up, gunfire and explosions light up the White House lawn plain as day. The semi-truck she used to get close to the grounds without being seen is torn to pieces as she and hundreds of warbots storm out of the remains.
Fifty secret service agents fire their weapons ineffectively at the machines. Green plasma fires back, vaporizing flesh and blowing huge holes in the White House.
Amelia, you will be arriving soon.
“Contact this timeline’s version of Epic, explain it to him,” I say. It’s a risk. Will he believe us?
That’s when I see them. Bricklayer and Samantha Contee. I can save two lives that matter to me today, not to mention countless more.
“Go full auto on the grenade launcher, get her attention. And unlock the rifle.” I could go with the Sword, but from past experience, I know it won’t kill her. The rifle though? Without a doubt.
I kick in the Emdrive and break the sound barrier for a heartbeat before throwing everything in full reverse to slam into the ground between Behemoth and Samantha. Epic launches a flurry of HE grenades that devastate the nearest warbots. I still don’t like the idea of killing her. What if she were telling the truth when we spoke in the prison vehicle? Or what if she were saying what she believed was the truth...
“Epic, I’m gonna try something crazy.”
“Arsenal? New armor huh, well that was fast. Don’t worry, though,” she says, slamming her fist into her palm creating a small seismic shockwave. “I’m gonna tear you apart.”
“Karen,” I say over the PA, loud enough to be heard, even over the explosions. “Listen, you’re wrong. Ericsson isn’t going to win. And even if he did, the Th’un have infiltrated Cat-7. The moment they show up in our star system all his tech is going to go dark and we all die anyway.” I speak as fast as I can without tripping over my words. Behemoth is incredibly quick, quicker than someone of her size ought to be.
“What?” She pulls up short, just a foot in front of me. I have the rifle pointed down and my kinetic shields to full power. “How do you know his name?” she asks.
“Harold Ericsson. He was born in 1903. He switches bodies telepathically each time his current body dies. And tomorrow, Karen, is the last time he will do it.”
“How do you know this?” she screams at me.
“Because I’m going to throw him into the sun. Once he’s past the Van Allen Belt he can’t ever come back. It blocks his powers. Then I am going to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Karen, you have to believe me, please.” Until this moment, I didn’t realize I was here to save three lives. My Behemoth made her bed, just like this one, but the difference here is, I know how the future turns out.
She shakes her head. “No. You’re lying. You can’t know any of this.”
“I know how this is going to go. You’re not going to believe me, but I promise you, in five minutes you will. I know all of this because, for me, it’s already happened. I’m from two years in the future.” While shock rolls over her and she chews on this, I switch to internals and talk to Epic. “Epic, instruct the Marshals and the Secret Service agents to fall back to the interior of the White House. Ask this timeline’s Amelia to hang back long enough for me to handle the situation.”
Done. You are confident she will listen?
“I would.”
Carefully, as not to look aggressive, I sling the rifle on my back and free my hands. I know the rifle will kill her; I’ve done the math. It’s not the SDF-1 but it strikes with enough force over a small enough area, I’m ninety-nine percent sure it will take her out.
“You’re so full of crap your armor is brown. You should have shot me,” she growls as she charges forward.
“Full power kinetic emitters, maximum force,” I tell Epic as she charges. I’m not stronger than her—I can’t beat her in a straight-up fight. But I don’t have to beat her. She looms large above me and I strike. The ZPFM whines as power flows from it into the super-capacitor for one massive burst. Like the world’s largest rubber band snapping, the energy pops as I slam my fist into her chest. I only have a second to register the shock on her face as she flies backward into the semi-truck she emerged from. The cab explodes in a fireball that lights up the sky, casting long shadows on the White House lawn.
“Carlos, I need you here,” I say over the comms.
“Where are you?” he asks.
“At the White House. Look for the explosion.”
He doesn’t answer for a second. “Amelia, what are you doing?”
“Righting a wrong. Kate can handle Frank’s family. I need you here.”
Behemoth emerges from the flaming debris. She scowls as she stomps forward. The US Marshals and Secret Service Agents listened, thankfully. They’ve all retreated to the White House.
“I don’t know how you did that, little girl. But I am going to peel you out of that armor and bathe in your blood!”
I stand my ground. Epic updates Carlos’ position and he’ll be here any second. “I don’t think so, Karen. You can’t beat both of us.”
“Both of you—”
Her charge is interrupted as Carlos falls from the sky. He didn’t use his spear to travel, he just leaped. Landing with a ground-shaking rumble he stands right up, shield out, and takes her charge on Aegis. A thunderclap echoes and the shockwave rips up grass and cracks concrete as it emanates out from between them. Behemoth takes a step back, shaking her head clear.
“Sydney, I am... You’re not Sydney?” Behemoth stutters.
“No,” Carlos says. He glances back at me. He has to be wondering what the hell I’m doing. Me too.
“Karen, this is the new Protector. Tonight, if you don’t stop, you murder Sydney,” I say. “You do it by clapping your hands over his ears with all your strength. I suspect you’ve known how to do this for some time. Maybe something you learned while you were dating.”
Her eyes go wide. For the first time, something other than black pits of hate stare back at me. “I... I wouldn’t kill him...”
I shake my head. “But you do. He comes to stop you. To save me. When he does, you murder him. You leave the world defenseless. Without hope. Please, Karen, please listen to me. The world is stronger with you in it. You’re right about one thing—the aliens are coming and we have to be united to defeat them. Work with us. Help us stop them.”
For a second a mask of rage and hate passes over her face, then it’s gone. Her eyes clear and for the first time, I see the woman beneath the monster.
“I... I believe you. Ericsson… he told me this was the only way and... and I really thought it was.”
I nod. “I know. Help this world, Karen. Be a force for good.”
The whine of the Emdrive catches my attention and this timeline’s Arsenal lands beside me.
Behemoth looks between the two of us, confusion on her face.
“Amelia,” I say.
“Amelia,” my other-self says. “This is both weird and awesome.”
The armor I wore to fight Behemoth that first time looks like a Model-T compared to my MK VII. I’ve come so far in such a short amount of time.
“It really is true?” Behemoth asks.
“Epic, retract faceplate,” I tell him. He does. “Behemoth, you may not believe this, but I am trying to save your life. With it, a lot of lives. You can do such good if you try. I know you can. The Th’un are already here. Help us fight them.”
“Who are the Th’un?” Amelia asks. Her faceplate retracts as she speaks.
“Aliens who plan on strip mining Earth,” I say.
“Oh... is that all. Can you tell me a little more?” Amelia asks.
I look at her. We don’t seem all that different. She isn’t much you
nger than me, but dang if I don’t feel years older. There are so many things I could say—but what if I just make matters worse?
“Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out. Close faceplate.” Without saying anything else, I blast off. Carlos leaps after me, leaving a bewildered Amelia and a friendly Behemoth behind. I wonder if this timeline’s Pythia knew this would happen and if that is why Sydney didn’t show up tonight? It’s a mystery for another time.
Something like pride warms my chest. Sure, this doesn’t change what happened in my past, but it changed someone’s past. Somewhere out there an Amelia will fight alongside Behemoth. Sydney won’t die, Carlos will get to go on living a normal life, and Pythia will live. One little change and everything turns out for the better. I’m a little sad it isn’t my past, but a lot happy to have done it.
“That was weird, Niña,” Carlos says over our private channel. “You changed an awful lot back there. Are you sure it’s for the better?”
“No... not really. But I hope it is. Sometimes hope is all we have.”
I do one flyby of Kate so as not to scare Jasmine and her daughters. Kate waves and I come back around and land. I think it’s best we don’t explain to them the intricacies of time travel. Technically this is a different timeline now, but it is still Frank’s past. He deserves his family and they deserve a father.
“Thank you,” Jasmine says as the whine of my Emdrive dies down. “For all of us.”
I shake my head and retract my faceplate. “Your husband is the one who deserves thanks; he sacrificed a lot for this.”
She nods, holding his hand while he holds his girls.
“We don’t have much time,” Kate reminds us. “Into the pod you go.”
It only takes a couple of minutes to secure the four of them. It’s a tight fit, but with Kate there to keep everyone calm, it goes smoothly. The other reason I wanted to bring her along. No one can convince a person of the impossible better than my Kate.
“You ready Frank?” I ask.
“Yes. God, yes.”
“Okay, let’s light this firecracker!” I say with a grin.
In my time as Arsenal, I’ve had a lot of crap happen to me—not just the broken bones and bruised ribs (of which there have been plenty). I found my parents, only to not really find them. I lost Kate, only to find her and lose myself. I lost Luke… and I’m still looking for him. I’ve been through a lot. There are nights I don’t even know how I sleep.
Then there are moments like this. All the crap I’ve been through… these moments make it all worthwhile. I watch Frank break down in sobs holding his wife and daughters, and my heart is close to bursting. They’re all so happy it hurts.
“Epic, text Mom and Dad for me, please.”
What do you want it to say?”
“I love you.”
Message sent. I am very proud of you, Amelia. You have grown into a wonderful woman. I am honored to be your friend.
“Thanks, buddy, that means more to me than you can know.”
You would be surprised.
My apartment is entirely too small for this gathering. I don’t have a ton of space for the five adults and two kids who are crowded into it. I glance at Kate and Carlos and give them a nod of my head.
“We’re going to clear out. The place is yours for the night. Tomorrow we’ll get you back where you belong. Frank...” I know he doesn’t want to talk about this to them, “has a few things he needs to talk to you about.”
“It’s hard to believe it’s two years later,” Jasmine says.
“Our friends are all two years older?” the twins ask in unison.
“I’ll let your dad answer all of it. I need to get out of my armor and upstairs. Enjoy.” I turn and walk to the bookcase, making sure to cover my secret entrance as I pull back on the book titled Armor. Okay, I guess it’s kind of obvious if I think about it, but it’s also fitting.
I don’t envy Frank having to explain his version of time travel to them. They died in our timeline. That’s final. They’re from an alternate timeline... but it wasn’t alternate until we changed things...
My head hurts.
A couple of minutes later the automated armor removal system deposits me back in the lab, right into my oh-so-comfortable chair. To my surprise, Kate is waiting for me. Somehow, in the time it took me to change my armor, she’s changed her outfit and put on some dark red lipstick that makes her look like a million bucks.
“Amelia, you thought I’d forgotten, didn’t you?”
I glance around the lab, looking for a clue as to what she’s talking about. Did I forget a date or something?
“Uh... no... but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She smiles her million-watt smile. “You need to change your clothes, put on some makeup, and get ready to party. Because the girls and I are taking you out on the town regardless of if you want to or not!”
“Kate, we literally just traveled through time, fought Behemoth, and changed someone’s past. I’m beat. Can we do this tomorrow?” The unyielding look in her eyes tells me we can’t. I sigh, loud and dramatic, projecting my displeasure at her.
She presses her lips together in what I am sure is the sexiest pout that ever was. “You’re going to hurt my feelings if you keep that up. I told you, we’re going to celebrate your birthday. Normally I am all for you getting some rest. You can drink an extra Coke tomorrow to keep you together. Tonight, we’re going out. Come on, I’ll help you get ready.”
An hour later, Kate, Tia, Lux, Tessa, and I are exiting the luxury SUV provided by the company. The restaurant Kate picked is a Mexican-American fusion upscale place owned by one of Arizona’s more famous chefs: Casa De Comida. Which, if the little Spanish I’ve picked up over my life is right, roughly translates to, “Home of the Food.” I certainly like the name. Kate shot me a little pick-me-up in the car and I slammed a White Monster. No substitute for sleep, but I’m twenty-one. I can sleep later.
The place is slamming. A live band plays popular music, the staff is dressed in brightly colored, vaguely authentic uniforms, and the food smells divine. My mouth waters the second the smell of fried green peppers and tortillas fills my nose.
“Oh, this was such a good idea,” I say as Kate pushes me to the elevator. We make quite the entrance. My wheelchair catches everyone’s attention, but the five women behind me keep it. Somehow, Kate manages to look amazing even after the long day we’ve had. Black, knee-high boots, distressed jeans, a white top with a scooped neckline, and her patented black leather jacket, along with her red lipstick lend her the look of a rock star.
Kate is followed by Lux, with her exotic blend of American and Asian features and her long, straight blonde hair that almost glows in the dark. Tonight she’s wearing an equally straight black dress that goes down to her ankles and caps it off with a pair of five-inch white heels, easily making her the tallest of us all.
Tia, who is only five-four anyways, stuck with flats that are popular in Argentina at the moment. Her forest green skirt wraps around her knees like a glove, showing off every inch of her toned legs. She’d put an Italian soccer player to shame with her calves. Her top is a black sequin loose-fit blouse that flutters in the wind.
Tessa, true to herself, has her bad-girl cutoff shorts on, with her white tank top that stops just short of her pierced belly button. I don’t know if she does this to mess with me, or if she is really a big fan, but the tank top has an image of Arsenal saying, “Arsenal Shot First.”
Monica pulls up the rear in a pale blue dress and matching heels. Her icy blonde hair is up in a bun, with what looks like icicles holding it up.
Needless to say, the restaurant falls into a hush as we move through it. I hate being the center of attention and I feel like everyone is looking at me. A man slides his chair out in front of us and my heart skips a beat. It’s going to be Seattle all over again. This time, though, it’s civilians.
“Kate, I—” she puts a quieting hand on my shoulder.
The man, a good-looking fellow with black hair and brown eyes that look out of place with his too light skin, pushes his chair back in, turns to me and raises his hands. I start to freak out when he claps.
At first, it’s just him. Then there are people everywhere up on their feet applauding, cheering, shouting our names.
“I love you, Kate,” a man yells.
“Girl power, TK,” a woman screams.
Then the chanting starts... “Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal.” I’m desperate not to cry. After everything that has happened, it’s beyond emotional to hear such support.
I wave at the crowd and then point at the lift. Kate gets us moving again. People turn to cheer and applaud as we make our way to the elevator. They’re still applauding when the doors close on the six of us.
“You planned that, didn’t you?” I ask Kate, looking up at her.
A single tear wells in her eyes and drips down her chin. “No. I just know how people feel about you. I wanted you to feel how I feel about you,” Kate says.
“How we all feel about you,” Monica adds.
“On two worlds,” Lux says.
I don’t even know how to process what I’m feeling. My mouth hangs open for a solid ten seconds and my heart clouds my vision with tears.
“Thank you.” Is all I manage to choke out before the doors open.
Annoying bugs dive-bomb me on an alien planet. Massive stalks of green vegetation engulf me as I try to swim away—but I can’t swim because I’m six and I haven’t learned yet.
I open my eyes with my face stuffed in a pillow and my arms and torso wrapped up in flannel sheets. The alarm continues its dispassionate assault on my ears.
“Epic, shut it off,” I groan.
He does. I sigh. Rolling over, I toss the pillow aside and stare up at the ceiling. I’m covered in sweat from the nightmare and I just want to go back to sleep. But, if I close my eyes I know I’ll be right back there. Trapped on an alien planet, unable to walk. A long sigh escapes my lips. Okay, enough wallowing, time to work. I check the clock. By now Kate, Carlos, and Frank Parker should be on their way to Greece. If they can travel back in time right from the Oracle’s lair, then it should be a quick trip.
Full Metal Superhero (Book 6): Explosive Arsenal Page 15
