Heroic
Page 12
“Can you hand me that?” Kani asked, pointing to the tablet. I hadned it ot her. She pulled out the camera app and looked at herself in it. “It does look like I’ve been having sex.”
She wasnt wrogn, her hair was all out of sorts, tufts of hair escaping her ponytail and pulling it off to one side. Buyt with all that had been happening it really wasnt that unexpected. She took a few minutes to try adn fix the worst parts of her hair, ebfoer handing the tablet to me.
I stared for a moment at what the camera showed. The face was familiar, but only becasue I had spent so much time looking at it in the last few days. It was the face of a model, not a runway model, but a literal one, made to look Val’s idea of sexy. It was nice and all, but it wasnt me.
This person was not who I was. I knew reationally that looks didi not make a person, but I couldnt properly seperate what I should look like from my personality. So when I looked in the camera, I winced and shoved it back on the table. Kani noticed.
I reached down into my Foundation, to try and calm myself and order my thoughts. For the first time since I was a child, the experiecne was slightly uncomfortable. When I was finally able to envision my bunker, the walls, while not cracked, seemed thinner, less substantial somehow. I did my best to strengthen them, before allowing them to absorb as much of my emotions as possible.
It was much less than I was used to. With a reluctant sigh, I withdrew from the bunker.
Kani looked at me with sympathy on her face. Then a new dawn rose in her eyes. She darted off into a closet. She pullled outa box of random things in it. “Where is it?” She repeatedly mumbled to herself, as she crouched over it pulling varoius items up before putting them down again. I walked over to her as she searched the box.
“Aha!” She exclaimed. She retrieved somethign that looked like a skin colored mask.
“This.” She said, turning to show it to me. “This is what we call a template. Very few things are already decided on when they bring a new MagAI into the world. This made it incredibly difficult for them to prepare equipment for the children. This was their solution!”
As far as I knew, calling any of the MagAI children was a bit of a stretcvh. They were made not born. They were smarter than the average human, though they could only be made through a bonding of Magic and AI technology.
“This is a template.” She said, lifting the mask. “All you gotta do is have it scan your face from pictures from a few different angles. Then it will produce a fairly close copy, then you just need to manually adjsut a few things and you should look good as old.”
“Thank you.” I said smiling at her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As we entered the small office dining area, to find that Valeria had set out a small buffet of different options. I would’ve salivated, though I didn't think my body would spare the liquid to do so.
“That looks amazing," Kani said, looking equally hungry. She prowled around the options as she gathered the plate Val had set out for her. “I don't know where to start.”
“Get some of everything," Val replied, then she turned to me. “I didn’t know if you could eat. If I remember correctly, you can hold some few bits and pieces taking in through your mouth, but you weren't designed to run on that sort of fuel.”
Just my luck.
“I might be able to hook something up for you," Kani said, looking up from where she was stacking eggs, sausage, bacon, bread, pancakes, and fruit onto her plate. “It will be pretty expensive though. I’m not sure how much exactly, but I can look into that sort of generator, they’re just really inefficient, so you probably shouldn't bother.”
I reluctantly nodded. “Thank you for offering at least," I said to Kani with a smile.
I watched as they vigorously tore through the food they had stacked on their plates. I was surprised by how much food Kani could chow down. Compared to Val’s plate, she was eating her way through a mountain of food. And she was going through it at a decent pace.
Unsurprisingly, Val finished her plate long before Kani finished hers, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Kani attacked the food like she was a starving dog that had just found an abandoned pizza.
“Uh! Uh! Uh!” Kani suddenly exclaimed, when she was about halfway through her plate. “Are you going to help Vanys too?”
“Help Vanys?” Val asked.
“He wants to be a hero. He told me so.”
“Oh, yea?” Val turned towards me with a raised eyebrow, and a smile on her lips. Then as she was looking me in the eye, I saw her eye twitch and her mouth tick downward. She turned toward Kani, her face neutral. “Too? Are you going to be helping him?”
“Of course I am!” Kani said excitedly. I noticed how the hand Val held her fork with tensed ever so slightly. “I’m going to be his mechanic.” Kani continued.
“Really?” Val asked. “Are you now?” I couldn't put an exact point on it, but I got the distinct impression that she was angry, something about the way she held herself. She definitely wasn't pleased.
“Hey, I think she would bed a tremendous help," I interjected. “She knows a lot more about tech than I ever will.” I stopped arguing when I saw the look that Val turned towards me. Cold, angry green eyes turned towards me. Not a hint of that purple power I saw earlier.
“Of course, I’m going to be a great help. I’ll make new weapons for him to defeat his enemies. I’ll be his night nurse when he needs patching up. I’ll be the strong woman behind the hero. The one that made him work.” I didn't agree with her like I think she wanted me to. Val had nailed my mouth shut with two green spears.
The whole time she kept her expression neutral; finally she turned towards Kani and smiled. “That sounds wonderful! I’m glad that you’re so excited about this. But don't you think it will be a little dangerous?”
“For me? No way. Besides the most dangerous things hero faces nowadays is stuff like an incursion. There aren’t really any of the big bad villains out there.” Kani argued. I saw Val’s mouth twitch, but she controlled herself before it got that far.
“Well, that’s very nice. I’m glad that you're excited about it.” Val said. “I was thinking Vanys, that I should probably drive you home. If I remember correctly your apartment is closer on the other side of the Tower.”
Kani seemed a little puzzled at the sudden shift in conversation, but I had picked up the clues. I knew the mother of all scoldings would be waiting for me.
“Sounds great," I replied weakly.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
As we entered the small office dining area, to find that Valeria had set out asmall buffet of different options. I would’ve salivated, tohugh I didnt think my body would spare the liquid to do so.
“That looks amazing.” Kani said, looking equally hungry. She prowled around the options as she gathered the plate Val had set out for her. “I dont know where to start.”
“Get some of everything.” Val replied, then she turned to me. “I didn’t know if you could eat. If I rememebr correctly, you can hold some few bits and pieces taking in thorugh your mouth, but your werent desgined to run on that sort of ufel.”
Just my luck.
“I might be able to hook something up for you.” Kani siad, looking up from where she was stacking eggs, sausage, bacon, bread, pancakes and fruit onto her plate. “It will be pretty expensive through. I’m not sure how much exactly, bnut I can look inot that sortt of generator, they’re jsut really inefficient, so you proabably shouldnt bother.”
I reluctantly nodded. “Thank you for ooffering at least.” I said to her withh a smile.
I watched as they vigourously tore through the food they had stacked on their plates. I was surprised by how much food Kani could chow down. Compared to Val’s plate, she was eating her wayt through a mountain of food. And she was going through it at a respectable pace.
Unsurprisingly, Val fininshed her plate long befoer eKani finished hers, tohugh it wasnt for laack of trying. Kani attacked the food, like she was a starving
dog that had just found an abandoned pizza.
“Uh! Uh ! Uh!” Kani suddenyl exclainmed, when she was about halfway thorugh her plate. “Are you goign to help Vanys too?”
“Help Vanys?” Val asked.
“He wants to be a hero. He told me so.”
“Oh yea?” Val turened towards me with a raised eyebrow, and a smile on her lips. Then as she was looking me in the eye, I saw her eye twitch and her mouth tick downward. She turned toward Kani, her face neutral. “Too? Are you going to be heloing him?”
“Of course I am!” Kani said excitedly. I noticed how the hand Val held her fork with tensed everso lsightly. “I’m ogign to be his mechanic.” Kani continued.
“Really?” Val asked. “Are yuoui now?” I oculdnt pout an exqact point on it, but I got the distinc impression that she was angry, something abouyt the way she held hersefl. She defnitely wasnt pleased.
“Hey, I tihnk she would bed a tremendous help.” I interjected. “She knwows alot more about tech than I vefr will.” I stopped arghuing when I saw the look taht Val turned towards me. Cold, angry green eyes turned towards me. Not a hint of that purple power I saw earlier.
“Of couerse I’m going to be a fgerat help. I’ll amke new weapons for him to defeat his enemies. I’ll be his night nurse, when he needs patchign up. I’ll be the strgon woman behind the hero. The one that made him work.” I didnt argue with her, like I tihnk she wanted me to. Val had nailed my mouth shut wiht tow green spears.
The whole time she kept her expression neutral, fginally she turned towards Kani and smiled. “That soudsn wonderful! I’m glad taht you’re so excited for this. But dont you tihnk it will be a little dangerous?”
“For me? No way. Besides the most dangerous things hero faces nowadays is stuff like an incursion. There aren’t really anymroe of thje big bad viallians out there.” Kani argued. I saw Val’s mouth twitch, but controlling ehrself befoere it got that far.
“Well that’s very nice. I’m glad that youre excited for it.” Val said. “I was thinking Vanys, that I should probably drive you home. If I remember correclty your apartment is closer on the otherside of the Tower.”
Kani seemed a little puzzled at the sudden shift in conversation, but I had picked up the clues. I knew the mother of all scoldings would be waiting for me.
“Sounds great.” I replied weakly.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The first five minutes of sitting in the car with Val was among the worst five minutes of my life. I repeatedly trying to reinforce myself with my Foundation, but it was still severely deteriorated.
The tension was thick enough that you could slap it with a spoon, and not in the right way. Whenever I opened my mouth to try and disperse some of it, she just sends me a withering look that shut any thought of speaking down.
Finally, after waiting for about a hundred years, she relented. “Why would you do that?” She asked coldly. “Why would you possibly think that going out to be a hero would be a good idea? You would bring everyone you know into danger. You don't have any grasp on the extent of the problems your decision could cause, the least of which is your own health.”
“That’s a little rude," I mumbled, defensively.
“Is it!” I didn’t sound like a question. “Because I think it's rude and irresponsible to draft some innocent young girl into a job that you have no experience in, and you don't know the dangers of. You beast brained moron."
“But you do?” I asked. I did my best to stay calm. I might be able to get some more information out of her. I thought it was pretty clear that she had experience as a hero. She must have done some work at a point in time. She had lived for long enough for her public records to disappear.
“Listen, you birdbrain. This isn’t about me, this is about you risking yours and Kani’s life. Yes! Fine! I know a thing or two about it.” It seemed that my calm tones had brought her down a notch. “That’s why I know of the dangers that such work brings with it.”
“Then maybe you should join us," I said. “You could help us become better at the job. Mentor us into becoming a proper hero team.”
I swear I could hear her grit her teeth from the other side of the car. “I don't think that would be a good idea either.”
“Why not?” Ia sked. “Is it because of your power?”
She seemed to deflate suddenly. She sunk down into her chair and closed her eyes, rubbing at her temples. “Yes. It can, at times, make me incredibly unstable, if I’m not in Alignment.” I didn't know what Alignment meant, but I didn't push her. Didn’t want to risk her shutting up again.
“Very well then," I said. “You don't mentor me out there, you could be like the team leader sitting back in home base guiding my action, then Kani could be the, and we all get what we want. You help us stay safe as we learn the ropes and you don't have to use your powers.”
Val sighed. “That could work.” She mumbled reluctantly.
“See, besides its like what Kani said. The biggest dangers are The Incursions. There hasn't been a really powerful villain attack for at least 20- 25 years. They are all locked up or dead by now.”
This time Val broke out into actual laughter. “You should really study your history before making such claims.” She said, none of the laughter reaching her voice now. “37 nuclear class villain or above are currently in maximum security prisons. 15 escaped to the Wilds at some point. At least 7 live somewhere in the Towers hiding from the public, either biding their time or having quit the game.”
She stopped to stare at me before continuing. “Every single one of those villains has more experience fighting Supers than you have been alive. Its also about time that the next wave of villains rises up, its been just long enough that the youth.” She looked pointedly at me. “Had forgotten what it was like when real villains and heroes fought.”
I was flabbergasted, I had not known that villain appearances have tapered off, but not to that degree.
“Then there are the villains like the one who attacked the bank the other day. Do you think she couldn't have stopped you if you came at her? She was able to shoot rays of explosive power and balls of acidic energy. Don't think of yourself as big and strong because you outmatch the average human. You don't outmatch the average Super, so you better put that into perspective.”
I swallowed. I didn’t even realize that I could simulate that movement until I did it, but it felt nice to have such a human reaction to reality gut-punching you in the face… yup, that’s the metaphor I’m going with. I thought.
“So I’ll just need more help than I previously assumed, it can't be that bad," I replied, feeling like it was that bad. I was pretty sure Val could tell from the look on my face.
Her mouth twitched, and she shot me a glance. “Meet me in five days with some footage of you handling minor crimes, then I’ll run you tohurhg the process, see what you did right and what you did wrong.” She said. I felt an immense sense of relief that she wanted to help me, but also realized that the hill I thought I had to climb had been a mountain all along. I was ready though, I was prepared to turn my life around and start doing better.
First, though, there was something else I had to ask.
Chapter Thirty
The first five minutes of sitting in the car with Val was among the worst five minutes of my life. I repeatedly trying to reinforce myself with my Foundation, but it was still badly deteriorated.
The tension was thick enough that you could slap it with a spoon, and not in a good way. Whenever I opened my mouth to try and disperse some of it, she jsut send me a withering look htat shut any thought of speaking down.
Finally after waiting about a 100 years, she relented. “Why would you do that?” She aksed coldly. “Why would you possibly think that going out to be a hero would be a good idea? You would bring everyone you knowi into danger. You dont have any grasp on the exctend of the problems your decision could cause, the least of which is your own health.”
“That’s a little rude.” I mumbled
, defensively.
“Is it!” I didn’t sound likje a quesiton. “Because I tihnk its rude and irresponsible to draft some innocent young girl into a job that you have no experience in, and you dont knwo the dangers of. You beast brained moron”
“But you do?” I asked. I did my best to stay calm. I mgiht be albe to get some more information out of her. I thought it was pretty clerawt hat she had experience as a hero. She must have done some work at a point in time. She had lived for long enough for her public records to disappear.
“Listen, you birdbrain. This isn’t about me, this is about you risking yours and Kani’s life. Yes! Fine! I know a thing or two about it.” It seemed that my calm tones, had brought her down a notch. “That’s why I know of the dagners that such wokr brings wiht it.”