by H D Forth
The moment she sat down, the car started moving again. I barely noticed as I was already falling in and out of sleep from pure exhaustion. I felt Val’s hand on my arm, my shoulder and on my back at different periods of the trip. I didn't notice it moving ever. I can just distinctly remember her hand.
The she helped out of the car again. Why? Why did I have to get up? I didn't want to, that hurt. I mumbled some complaints, and she replied in a mild, yet strict tone.
Then we were inside, in a immaculate apartment, slash building. I looked around, recognizing the place. I pointed towards the sink, right next to the refrigerator. “Isn't that the place with the pussy” I exclaimed, suddenly remembering a certain afternoon. I heard someone let out a guffaw of laughter, from somewhere else in the building.
“Monitor activate manual recording function, 30 second playback.” Val said. I didn't understand what she meant, but my stomach said beep, so I laughed.
I let out a groan of pain, and fell to one knee. My world exploded into pain as I did.
I heard someone yelling in pain.
Then later I heard saw someone standing over me. I could see that she had this fantastic blond hair, pulled into a beautiful ponytail. Unfortunately, I couldn't see her face as she had on this huge mask.
In her other hands, she was holding something akin to a glowing stick. She was holding it to my stomach, I thought that maybe I should find it frightening.
“Repair Mode - Do not worry.” I received a ping from the computer containing the message. “You are being repaired. As you are being repaired, the pain function has been turned off in the local area.”
Huh, that was neat. Then a little later, I felt another ping from the computer. “Repair mode - Do not worry.” …
Chapter Seventy-Nine
It was as he expected.
A knowing smile spread across Leric's face as he leaned back from the rooftop, hiding once more from view and cutting off the sight of what was happening beneath him. He had given Trace plenty of opportunity, weaponry and the manpower needed, it's not his fault Trace had lacked the skill to go through with it.
Though he was surprised with the ruthlessness that the Hero had attacked them with. That kind of force was rarely seen in newcomers.
And he was definitely a newcomer. Leric almost let out a snort, despite his attempts at hiding. The man had fallen for the Lady in Peril, that one was as old as time. Leric had thought that one would’ve died out ages ago.
Yet the hero had burst in there, not even disabling some of them from a distance. He lacked severely in experience and skill, he obviously had very little knowledge on how to actually fight.
He had also gotten something else confirmed. The Hero was 100% a MagAI. If the metal bits blasting off his body as he was shot wasn't enough of a clue, then the sudden burst of speed and power was. He might be able to do damage, but Leric doubted he had the skill to actually take him down. This would be an easy one.
Peering over the edge, he saw the Hero confiscate Trace’s backpack. At least he wasn't stupid, the hero limping back to the wall where he could keep an eye on all of them.
For a moment, he considered going down there to help them.
Don’t. The force from Lady Magra was powerful, enough to send a ripple of movement through his body, as the power containing him weakened for a moment.
"I wouldn't actually do it, milady," Leric said, trying to keep the grumble out of his voice. He knew that she could tell her actions had angered him, but he also knew that she appreciated the courtesy. She was a classy lady after all.
It was true. However, Leric wouldn't go down there to help young Trace. Not because he disliked the young man, he actually liked him quite a bit. He wouldn't do it, because then he would be seen going out of his way to help Trace.
If Trace had started making his moves a year or three later, then he could’ve safely done it. Right now though, he couldn't be seen picking someone like Trace as a favorite, it would lead to too many disadvantageous situations in the long run.
He heard the sirens in the background and realized it was time to go. Not much time yet to go. Soon, he would've solidified the Tenners enough that he could spread out and take this Level.
If he did it right, then no one of import would notice. Then once he had spread a Level or two down, he would be able to mostly hide his actions and Leric would finally have the free reins he so desired.
"2 years," Leric mumbled, as he went down the stairs. The building opened out to both the street, where Trace and his companions were being arrested and the one opposite. He simply left through there, heading to his first meeting of the night.
He had some hands to grease. That was the thing about youngbloods like Trace and the ones being arrested. They still had family, be it only a mother, or a whole group from little sister to grandmother.
That was always the easiest way to shut a naive child up, all the receivers had to do was call their child.
Chapter Eighty
It was as he expected.
A knowing smile spread across Leric’s face as he leaned back from the rooftop, hiding once more from view and cutting off vision of what was happening beneath him. He had given Trace plenty of opportunity, weaponry and the manpower needed, it’s not his fault Trace had lacked the skill to go through with it. Though he was surprised with the ruthlessness that the Hero had attacked them with. That kind of force was rarely seen in newcomers.
And he was definitely a newcomer. Leric almost let out a snort, despite his attempts at hiding. The man had fallen for the Lady in Peril, that one was as old as time. Leric had thought that one would’ve died out ages ago. Yet the hero had burst in there, not even disabling some of them from a distance. He lacked severely in experience and skill, he obviously had very little knowledge on how to actually fight.
He had also gotten something else confirmed. The Hero was 100% a MagAI. If the metal bits blasting off his body as he was shot wasn't enough of a clue, then the sudden burst of speed and power was. He might be able to do damage, but Leric doubted he had the skill to actually take him down. This would be an easy one.
Peering over the edge, he saw the Hero confiscate Trace’s backpack. At least he wasn't stupid, the hero limping back to the wall where he could keep an eye on all of them.
For a moment, he considered going down there to help them.
Don’t. The force from Lady Magra was powerful, enough to send a ripple of movement through his body, as the power containing him weakened for a moment.
“I wouldn't actually do it, milady.” Leric said, trying to keep the grumble out of his voice. HE knew that she could tell her actions had angered him, but he also knew that she appreciated the courtesy. She was a classy lady after all.
It was true however. He wouldn't go down there to help young Trace. Not because he disliked the young man, he actually liked him quite a bit. He wouldn't do it, because then he would be seen going out of his way to help Trace.
If Trace had started making his moves a year or three later, then he could’ve safely done it. Right now though, he couldn't be seen picking someone like Trace as a favorite, it would lead to too many disadvantageous situations in the long run.
He heard the sirens in the background and realized it was time to go. Not much time yet to go. Soon, he would’ve solidified the Tenners enough that he could spread out and take this floor. If he did it right, then no one of import would notice. Then once he had spread to a few further floors, he would be able to mostly hide his actions and he would finally have the free reins he so desired.
“2 years,” Leric mumbled, as he went down the stairs. The building opened out to both the street, where Trace and his companions were being arrested and the one opposite. He simply left through there, heading to his first meeting of the night. He had some hands to grease. That was the thing about young bloods like Trace and the ones being arrested. They still had family, be it only a mother, or a whole group from little sister to grandmother. That was
always the easiest way to shut a naive child up, all the receiver’s had to do was call their child.
Chapter Eighty-One
It felt like much later, when I woke up again. This time some sunlight was being let in from the tinted glass of the windows. Tinted glass? I thought, since when did we have tinted glass.
I shook my head and sat up on the table. I looked around, searching for either Val or Kani.
I found them both sitting at a beat-up old kitchen table. It was one of the last things Val and I had brought over. We hadn't taken this one from her apartment but from a secondhand store. It hadn't cost very much. That was reasonable since it looked like it was built before they invented electricity, and hadn’t been repaired since.
Val was sitting next to Kani, in a tight top and an even tighter pair of blue jeans. Her hair had been pulled up into a bun, though not as strict as when she’d played Ms. Valencia.
Kani was holding the mouse to her laptop next to her, she had obviously stopped what she was doing to look at me.
She was wearing a loose shirt that still managed to hint at what was hidden beneath. I couldn't tell what she was wearing for pants as it was mostly obscured by Val, but I could tell that it wasn't pants, since I could still easily see her calves and knees under the table.
“Morning,” I mumbled.
“Morning,” They replied.
I got off the table, more or less in one piece, which was likely better than I had been when I got on it. I could feel some stiffness in my leg, and the movements of my back weren't wholly natural either.
Kani winced as she saw. "Yea, sorry about that." She said. "We could order some parts that fit better off the web, but then we would have to deal with secondhand dealers, and you would have to wait a couple days. We decided that until we saw how you walked with my parts for a few hours at least, we wouldn't be running out to spend money we could better use in other places."
I nodded and got into the chair next to her. Skirt, she was wearing a skirt. I hadn't noticed before, but the way her feet swung, since she couldn't reach the floor was pretty cute.
“What are you guys looking at?” I asked.
"We were just getting ready to show you something," Val said, gesturing to Kani.
The monitor module in your stomach activated last night when you ran towards the group of criminals. So we have a full recording of the fight, from start till end.”
I looked at Val, and she stared back at me somberly. "I get that I could've approached the situation better, but with the exception of not blindly rushing to random woman's defense and get a better reaction time, I don't know what I could change."
To my surprise, she nodded. "I agree. you handled that situation admirably. Except for how you got in it."
"Then I don't get it," I said. "What is there to talk about?"
She smiled at me sadly. Then she nodded at Kani. Kani clicked around a few times until she brought up a picture of me looking at the whole crew after I had taken them down. Another burst of pride glowed in my chest.
"This is so you can learn the consequences of your poor decisions," Val said. "If you'd made better decisions before it came to fighting, then most of what I am about to tell you could've been avoided.
She pulled a folder out from a bag, sitting next to her chair. She opened and pulled out something that looked like a medical report. “He has likely lost most, if not all of his hearing on the damaged ear. You have given him permanent ear damage.”
Kani clicked back to the picture of the criminals, she looked nauseous. Val pointed towards a pair of men, lying next to each other. They were both passed out.
A video played of me rushing them, my shoulders taking each of them in the hip.
“These guys both took heavy damage to their hips.” She said, throwing two reports over to me. They both detailed the damage to their hips. “One doctor even went as fast as to describe the remains as little more than dust, and the top of his thigh is not much better. They might one day walk again, once they get a new hip and either a leg bone, or get a prosthetic leg. They aren’t even 25 years old yet.”
Kani clicked back, and Val pointed at one, and she showed me the damage to my actions. Until we reached the woman.
"Last one," Val said, clearing her throat. Kani played the video of me tackling her to the ground, to the sound of crunching bone.
"Her name is Melissa," Val said, pulling the last paper from her folder. "You broke her spine," I winced at her words, "She's been in operation since they got her to the hospital and her fate is as of yet still not known, though it is unlikely that she will ever walk within the next 20 years or so. You managed to rip most of the nerves to her spine in your charge."
I swallowed looking at all the papers in front of me. "There's only one person in between any of these who will be fine again, within the next decade," Val said. "None of the people here are innocent sure, but your rash decision to rush in, and your lack of experience in restraining yourself, has ruined more than one life last night."
There was a quiet moment. "There is one thing, however," Val said, turning to me and looking me in the eyes. "What you did wasn't perfect, it wasn't even that good. But if you were stuck in that situation again, and you decided to use any less than full force, and you die. That would've been infinitely worse."
I flinched at her words and glanced away from her.
"Look at me." She said. I reluctantly turned to look at her. "There was only one good person out there that night. The fact that you are the only person who won't leave with semi-permanent damage is a blessing. But, I want you to think. A villain's most common tool to abuse is emotions. There's not been a single villain out there who hasn't at some point abused the emotions of the hero they were fighting. Think before you act, work with reason."
She tapped the papers. “Then maybe you could’ve put all these guys behind bars, instead of on hospital beds.”
I swallowed and forced myself to look her in the eyes. Then I nodded. I saved that speech, the pictures, and video to my hard drive. I couldn't let myself forget this lesson, being a hero wasn't as easy as I had first believed it to be, and I was only playing in the minor leagues.
“Now, who wants to take the day off, watch some TV and relax?” Val asked, moving to get up from the chair.
Everyone agreed.
Chapter Eighty-Two
It felt like much later, when I woke up again. This time some sunlight was being let in from the tinted glass of the windows. Tinted glass? I thought, since when did we have tinted glass.
I shook me head and sat up on the table. I looked around, searching for either Val or Kani.
I found them both sitting at a beat up old kitchen table. It was one of the last thing me and Val had brought over. We hadn't taken this one from her apartment, but from a secondhand store. It hadn't cost very much. That was reasonable, since it looked like it was built before they invented electricity, and hadn’t been repaired since.
Val was sitting next to Kani, in a tight top and an even tighter pair of blue jeans. Her hair been pulled up into a bun, though not as strict as when she’d played Ms. Valencia.
Kani was holding the mouse to her laptop next to her, she had obviously stopped what she was doing to look at me.
She was wearing a loose shirt that still managed to hint at what was hidden beneath. I couldn't tell what she was wearing for pants as it was mostly obscured by Val, but I could tell that it wasn't pants, since I could still easily see her calves and knees under the table.
“Morning,” I mumbled.
“Morning,” they replied.
I got off the table, more or less in one piece, which was likely better than I had been when I got on it. I could feel some stiffness in my leg, and the movements of my back wasn’t completely natural either.
Kani winced as she saw. “Yea, sorry about that.” She said. “We could order some parts that fit better off the web, but then we would have to deal with second hand dealers and you would have to wai
t a couple days. We decided that until we saw how you walked with my parts for a few hours at least, we wouldn't be running out to spend money we could better use in other places.”
I nodded and got into the chair next to her. Skirt, she was wearing a skirt. I hadn't noticed before, but the way her feet swung, since she couldn't reach the floor was pretty cute.
“What are you guys looking at?” I asked.
“We were just getting ready to show you something.” Val said, gesturing to Kani.
The monitor module in your stomach activated last night, when you ran towards the group of criminals. So we have a full recording of the fight from start till end.”
