Heroic
Page 28
He had spoked of momentum, like the hero was some kind of snowball, rolling down the hill gaining mass and speed with every second? Hardly. He really wasn't as dangerous as they all thought he was. If he had been any sort of real danger, then he would’ve come for them already. To Leric it was obvious, but theses young fools had never felt the sudden onset of massive powers. Not like him.
When that first happened, the first reaction was often to test the limits. There weren't many ways one could test such limits and until they were truly put to the test, then that gifted, that super would continue to get cockier and cockier. At least until they met their superior, very few that had met Leric as their superior had ever recovered. That was one aspect he was very excellent at, beating them down, dominating them hard enough that they wouldn't dare get back up again.
Now was not yet the time for the hero though. Now was the time for young Trace. He leaned down grabbing a backpack that he had placed against his chair before the meeting had started.
“You are right.” He grumbled, “this fool of a hero is a menace to our society.” They were young people, they like using words like society in exchange for terms like gangs. They were still a little idealistic, they couldn't help it. “We need to stop him. For that cause, I have chosen Trace to handle him. Trace you have ever been the loyal subject, always the first to come when I call, risking even my worst of angers to give me reports. It is only right that you get the honors.”
A circle of space cleared around the wide eyed young man. Leric threw the backpack to him. The man’s spindly arms reflexively catching the bag when it hit him in the chest. “You will be given free options of the armory, and I have managed to procure these explosives for your use, should they be necessary. But. Only if they’re necessary.” He hadn't actually given him explosives, he was no fool. He wasn't going to hand his enemy the single most useful weapon a human could have when fighting someone who regenerates.
It seemed for a moment, that his declaration had taken the young man so much by surprise that he was just going to go for it, but Leric was not to be that lucky. “I would like some members along with me.” He got out, gaining a little strength as the words came to him. “I am not certain that I would be able to handle someone like him alone. I would like to request friends to come a long with me.”
“Of course,” Leric replied. No matter how little he liked it, he couldn't just deny him and send him on his way. If he won then he would win too much notoriety, and if he lost then he had basically been sent to prison by Leric, which was only a little better than Leric himself killing someone that had publicly shown loyalty to Leric. It didn't help that Trace had been very careful about who he drew into his circle of allies.
Leric named a few other people that would join him. A few that he knew to be members of his group and some that were not. “You have only a few days to plan and take down the hero, after which I will require a full report, hat outlines how you managed to defeat him, and how you went about it.” Leric explained, turning back to his ‘throne’. “Dismissed.”
He settled on the too small chair as he watched everyone file out of the room. There was of course very little chance that they would be able to take down the hero. He had read Trace’s reports, another sign of his inexperience. He had seen some of the things that he had done and falsely assumed that he must be telekinetic, due to how he stopped the car in particular.
Leric doubted it, not much else he did fitted the average telekinetic’s way of solving issues, too much hand-to-hand for that. Personally Leric thought he was some sort of MagAI, which would likely make him even more dangerous that one would first assume. Their danger wasn’t in their slightly enhanced everyday strength, or their surprising amount of stamina. It was what happened to their enhanced strength, when that stamina that usually could last for days were burned in minutes.
He had once seen a video of one MagAI disassembling an entire enemy army in a matter of minutes. Near upon a thousand men, broken, battered, hurt and shattered, in just a few minutes. They rarely use the guns, since that point they’re as liable to hit themselves with them as they are to hit their enemies with them. Luckily, MagAI in such powerful frames were rare and very expensive.
The one he had seen video of, had allegedly cost more Credits, than the price of raising and populating an entire Tower with industry, yet there was very few things in the world that could compete with creatures on that power scale, not even incursions from the wild got that powerful. Or at least the ones that did, didn't bother hunting humans.
He doubted this hero was a particularly powerful MagAI, since he seemed to have trouble running down a car. The only problem he would have to worry about now, was Trace pulling a tactical miracle out of his ass. That was the hard part about the situation. Leric would have to give him enough material, that Leric himself could’ve pulled it off, even without the use of his powers, but not so much that Trace could easily figure it out.
Chapter Sixty-Five
I was out casually strolling about, in my hero regalia.
The mask Kani had given me, had been tweaked to be almost entirely blank, with just a line at eye height allowing me to see out. After we, I, determined that it was way more badass. It had taken a remarkable back and forth between Val and me.
Apparently, civilians really liked it when they could see their heroes faces, for some unknown reason. Therefore Val kept droning on and on about how important it was to seem approachable to the people, while I argued with the rule of cool.
Finally, today I had won, and so I had taken the mask out to show it off. Other than that I had also gotten a different pair of cargo pants. Two words. More pockets. Can’t ever have too many pockets.
I was about to take a break and call Val to see if she was up for some auditory entertainment when my phone rang.
Except it wasn't Val, it was Emmet. Which immediately made me feel a little wrong. For the past few years, there hadn't gone a day by, when I hadn't spoken to my friend at least once. Now it's been more than a week, and I hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words with him since he moved out.
I answered, actually raising the phone to my ear.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey Van, its Emmet,” He said. “How’s it going?”
"Fine, everything is actually going pretty great," I replied.
“How’s it going with work?”
"I've been taking a few days off, since the whole bank incident," I answered. I had to walk around a woman pushing a baby stroller. She smiled and waved at me, I smiled back, but she couldn't see that, so I also made sure to nod at her.
“Yea, about that.” Emmet started. “When are you going back to work?” I could hear the concern in his voice. He was worried that I would fluke my duties, and would have trouble returning to work.
I smiled and tried not to take offense. Emmet had reason to be worried.
"I actually spoke to Erik earlier today," I said. "I'm starting again next Monday, so I'll only have 7 days of freedom left before I will be put in the chair again," I replied dramatically.
"Oh, ye of weakness. How art thou to survive such destitute a fate!" Emmet replied even more dramatically.
“Careful,” I said, laughing. “You teacher side is showing. How’s that project coming along anyway?”
Emmet seemed to sober up some. "It's going, but it's difficult to get more than the initial wave of kids in. The Tenners are taking up so much space and time within their lives, and they aren't willing to share it with the school."
"Aaah shucks," I exclaimed, trying to make him feel a little better. " That sucks man, its a good cause."
“I know.” He replied. “If I continue they will come.” He sounded so certain.
I saw an elderly woman who was walking towards a crossing road, and I offered her my arm. She smiled and thanked me.
"What was that?" Emmet asked. I could hear the laughter in his voice. "Or should I say, who was that? Don't tell me, Vanys. You've got a g
irlfriend!"
Friendly Deed:
Help someone cross the road.
Rewards: 10 Tessian Points and 10 Credits Received.
I managed to restrain myself long enough to help the old woman cross the road. “I was just helping some lady cross the road, you know being nice and all. You should try it.”
There was a beat of silence before Emmet exploded into laughter. “You’re outside? Really? I don’t believe it. Don’t tell me. You ran into that maniac in a mask once, and now you’re constantly out in the neighborhood trying to meet him again.”
“Maniac in a mask?” I asked, feeling genuinely insulted.
"He's been spotted outside cleaning houses," Emmet replied.
“So? That’s not so weird.”
“At three in the morning!”
“Well, when you phrase it like that it sounds weird,” But not in context, I almost continued, but managed to stop myself. “He’s also been helping a lot of people.”
“Fair enough,” Emmet relented. “Though I have to say that you have to be some kind of stupid to put yourself out there like that.”
"Why? It's not like other heroes are doing it." I replied, a little too angrily.
"Hey, man calm down. I'm just saying some heroes still do, like Galenor." Emmet said, obviously trying to get me to calm down some. "He's been seen out and about quite often. Just last week someone got a picture of him, helping a kid change the tires on his car over in Thösi Tower."
“Alright, but you gotta give me this.” I said back, “He is the only one that does that kind of stuff.”
"Granted," Emmet replied. "Anyway, why did I call you again?" He sounded genuinely confused.
"Something about wanting to hear my seductive tones again," I replied, causing Emmet to laugh.
“It’s been nice talking to you man. You do sound better. We gotta meet up sometime.” Emmet said. “Bye.”
"Bye," I replied, and we hung up. I was surprised by how much I actually missed Emmet. I was nice speaking to him again, this time without all the pent up tension from living together for too long.
Chapter Sixty-Six
I was out casually strolling about, in my hero regalia.
The mask Kani had given me, had been tweaked to be completely blank. We determined that it was cooler that way. It had taken a remarkable back and forth between me and Val.
Apparently civilians really liked it when they could see their heroes faces, for some unknown reason. Therefore Val kept droning on and on about how important it was to seem approachable to the people, while I argued with the rule of cool.
Finally, today I had won, and so I had taken the mask out to show it off. Other than that I had also gotten a different pair of cargo pants. Two words. More pockets. Can’t ever have too many pockets.
I was about to take a break and call Val to see if she was up for some auditory entertainment, when my phone rang.
It wasn't Val. It was in fact Emmet. I immediately felt a little bad. For the past few years there hadn't gone a day by, when I hadn't spoken to my friend at least once. Now its been more than a week and I hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words with him since he moved out.
I answered, actually raising the phone to my ear.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey Van, its Emmet,” He said. “How’s it going?”
“Fine, everything is actually going pretty great.” I replied.
“How’s it going with work?”
“I’ve been taking a few days off, since the whole bank incident.” I answered. I had to walk around a woman pushing a baby stroller. She smiled and waved at me, I smiled back, but she couldn't see that, so I also made sure to nod at her.
“Yea, about that.” Emmet started. “When are you going back to work?” I could hear the concern in his voice. He was worried that I would fluke my duties, and would have trouble returning to work.
I smiled and tried not to take offense. He had reason to be worried.
“I actually spoke to Erik earlier today,” I said. “I’m starting again next Monday, so I’ll only have 7 days of freedom left before I will be put in the chair again.” I replied dramatically.
“Oh ye of weakness. How art thou to survive such destitute a fate!” Emmet replied even more dramatically.
“Careful,” I said, laughing. “You teacher side is showing. How’s that project coming along anyway?”
Emmet seemed to sober up some. “Its going, but its difficult to get more than the initial wave of kids in. The Tenners are taking up so much space and time within their lives, and they aren't willing to share it with school.”
“Aaah shucks.” I exclaimed, trying to make him feel a little better. “ That sucks man, its a good cause.”
“I know.” He replied. “If I continue they will come.” He sounded so certain.
I saw an elderly woman who was walking towards a crossing road, and I offered her my arm. She smiled and thanked me.
“What was that?” Emmet asked. I could hear the laughter in his voice. “Or should I say, who was that? Don’t tell me Van. You’ve got a girlfriend!”
Friendly Deed:
Help someone cross the road.
Rewards: 10 Tessian Points and 10 Credits Received.
I managed to restrain myself long enough to help the old woman cross the road. “I was just helping some lady cross the road, you know being nice and all. You should try it.”
There was a beat of silence, before Emmet exploded into laughter. “You’re outside? Really? I don’t believe it. Don’t tell me. You ran into that maniac in a mask once, and now you’re constantly out in the neighborhood trying to meet him again.”
“Maniac in a mask?” I asked, feeling genuinely insulted.
“He’s been spotted outside cleaning house.” Emmet replied.
“So? That’s not so weird.”
“At three in the morning!”
“Well, when you phrase it like that it sounds weird,” But not in context, I almost continued, but managed to stop myself. “He’s also been helping a lot of people.”
“Fair enough,” Emmet relented. “Though I have to say that you have to be some kind of stupid to put yourself out there like that.”
“Why? Its not like there are other heroes that do it.” I replied, a little too angrily.
“Hey, man calm down. I'm just saying there are some heroes that still do, like Galenor.” Emmet said, obviously trying to get me to too calm down some. “He’s been seen out and about quite often. Just last week someone got a picture of him, helping a kid change the tires on his car over in Thösi Tower.”
“Alright, but you gotta give me this.” I said back, “He is the only one that does that kind of stuff.”
“Granted.” Emmet replied. “Anyway, why did I call you again?” He sounded genuinely confused.
“Something about wanting to hear my seductive tones again.” I replied. He laughed.
“It’s been nice talking to you man. You do sound better. We gotta meet up sometime.” Emmet said. “Bye.”
“Bye.” I replied and we hung up. I was surprised by how much I actually missed Emmet. I was nice speaking to him again, this time without all the pent up tension from living together for too long.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
I was starting to learn the value of taking days off. Despite not technically being a job, yet, being a hero was still a lot of work. I was feeling a little burned out, due to the amount of time I just spent in costume.
I was used to a brain dead job, you could do with 2 hours of sleep and a hangover that could kill most men. I had literally seen some of my colleagues come to work like that.
Hero work was a different beast altogether. I didn't get physically tired, not in the same way as I used to do, but I got exhausted on a whole new level. Sometimes when I'd pulled really long shifts, I could feel it starting to weigh on my Connection with the Nerve Module.
Another factor was work. I would be starting up on that again soon. Onc
e I started up on work again, I would quickly find most of my time consumed by either that and patrolling as a hero.
This all culminated in an excuse to miss a day of hero work. I had determined that it was okay since I hadn't actually run into any criminals or other such company the day before, after talking with Emmet.
I had decided to surprise Kani and Val since I knew that it was one of Kani’s days off and they had decided to go work on our headquarters.
Closing in on midday and I was making my way across town, once more eschewing the need to rent a car for the ride. I hadn't always preferred walking, but it was cheaper, which was a more significant factor than being lazy.