Chapter 164

The League

Saturday

Wondra sat in her seat, which was relatively close to the front line of the action. There was a slightly cold morning breeze that was blowing through, but honestly such a breeze felt great right about now, as the rubbery suit that Wondra had now worn for close to two decades felt stiflingly hot to her skin. Three rows back, center stage, that was her seat, directly behind Judge the widow. To her surprise Aru’ka, the true reason why the League came out for this meeting was directly to her right. Due to Aru’ka being one seat over, Wondra wished to move over, but felt that such an act would draw too much attention to them. They knew that as members of the League their presence alone would already be scrutinized, everything they said, everything they did, that was why even now they sat there quietly.

Mophisto: Any idea why we are three rows back?

Well mostly quiet, thanks to Linker’s power the League was able to be present, communicate in real time, and coordinate activities as needed. The only annoying thing about Linker was that his power made it so everything came across as if you were reading a screenplay, with the Super’s Super name in front, followed by what they wanted to add to the group chat. Wondra mostly kept her thoughts to herself but was okay with watching others as they spoke and made fools of themselves.

Torch Light: I think those are their students that they were mentoring before us.

Mophisto: So, we get to play second fiddle to some kids?

Night Wing: Looks like it.

Mophisto: I think there is something more to it, there has got to be. I saw the interview those twenty members of ‘The Pack’ had at the hospital on Tuesday, there is something odd going on. Linker, have you done a scan of them yet?

Linker (Moderator): I have not been given authorization to do such an invasive scan.

Yes, that was Linker, while he rarely spoke in the communication network he had, he did make it so everyone knew who was in charge of his little mind network. Looking at it, the notification of him being the group moderator seemed overkill, but unfortunately for Wondra she couldn’t complain as she was the one who said he needed to do more things to show his worth to the group. They all knew he was vital in their day-to-day operations, especially with his seemingly limitless range needed to contact a mind he had melded with previously. The only problem was that no one saw that contribution, which was why she made a suggestion to get himself noticed. That was when he came up with the idea to both underline his name and point out he was the moderator of their chats.

While Wondra couldn’t quite complain about the results of such an act, as now everyone, even the newer members of the League saw him as the networker that he was, he still had the stupid moniker of underlining his name and pointing out he was a mind-chat moderator. Though in a situation like this one, he was invaluable, first he would help to establish contact with Aru’ka, and quickly make her a part of the League. Earlier, when Wondra had gone to see her at the hospital, what was it? Two and a half weeks ago? During that time Aru’ka was relatively weak but seeing her now Wondra couldn’t help but feel that the girl had easily doubled the power she exuded at that time.

That was when Wondra had to ask the question that was on her mind.

Wondra: Hey Vision, what tier of class is she?

The she that was spoken about was assumed to be Aru’ka, as that was the only target they had in mind today, the only reason why seventeen of the twenty active members of the League would be here, in one place. Leaving only behind the skeleton crew of Sliver, Blaze-Lightning, and Conveyer behind.

Vision: Too high for my Scanning ability, which makes her beyond Legendary.

At that Wondra just nodded, as she stared into the back of Aru’ka’s mask covered head. Looking at her, she could see the long flowing midnight black hair that rolled down her back. Then she saw how the same flowing black hair rolled down Judge’s back as well. That’s when it hit her, why they were so close. Why Warder and Judge, two retired American Supers were in England, assisting with a dragon invasion.

Gods I am stupid, Wondra thought to herself, making sure to keep her revelation to herself. It was obvious now, so obvious, she had even seen the similarities before, but discarded it. Midnight black hair was not too uncommon of a feature as to be truly noteworthy, but looking at them now, their posture, their proportions, they were so similar they could practically be clones of each other.

Wondra was so lost in her own thoughts that she let her eyes gloss over the chat screen that was flashing by in her mind. This was okay, as she could always go back through the screen to find the last messages. This was another feature of Linker, he would save conversations for an hour, or permanently record them if they were particularly important, which was why those of older standing like Wondra and Titanus, two of the remaining originals just kept quiet most of the time. That was also why they missed the moment Linker was given authorization to do something stupid.

In fact, the only reason Wondra noticed that anything had happened at all was that two things happened. The first was that the network of minds connected to her went dead, not disconnected, not slowly faded away due to too much use, but died. There one second and gone the next.

What? Wondra wondered to herself, as she blinked her mind awake as the odd sensation of spiderwebs had slowly faded away from her mind. Then she looked around and saw that Aru’ka was now staring back and staring at everyone. No, not everyone, just the members of the League that were immediately behind her. At this time Wondra also saw Linker’s body pass out and lurch forward from down the line, fortunately Selestra had been there to catch him, but only after he made a fool of himself by crashing to the ground.

Then just before Wondra could say anything, Aru’ka got up from her seat, went over to the microphone section and spoke.

“This is a notice, members of the League, that is strike two for you. You are down to last and final strike before you will be asked to leave.” Aru’ka said, holding up one finger to emphasize that they were down to their last strike.

This was no good, and Wondra shook her head wondering what had happened, what could have set the normally calm Healer off. But then, her mind raced and realized something that, if Judge was the mother, or somehow related to Aru’ka, then that would mean that Warder was her…

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Unfortunately, her thoughts did not happen quickly enough, Linker was down, meaning the thoughts that Wondra desperately wished to share were not being shared. That was another question she had, but more than likely Linker had done something stupid like try to read the mind of Aru’ka, the idiot.

Then stupid Mophisto had to open his big mouth, something that normally wasn’t a problem as he mostly kept to the group chat, but with Linker down, his mouth became unbridled, meaning he likely felt he could ask any question, even at a public funeral like this, for a fallen hero.

“I’m sorry, we are on strike two? Might I ask how this is strike two?” Mophisto asked.

You stupid moron, Wondra thought to herself, as she wished she had been next to Mophisto, so she could strangle him into silence. Unfortunately, he was one of the newer members of the League, and therefore thought his opinions mattered the most.

Then Aru’ka answered the question, in her blunt and dry manner that seemed to speak volumes about her not willing to put up with any garbage, not today.

“Strike one came, when you ghosted both Warder and Judge for fifteen years, after they had to take personal leave during their one time trying to join your organization. Since that point, you have cut off all ties to both Judge and Warder, in fact your appearance here today would seem to imply that you are not truly here to pay your respects to Warder, but to use this moment as a chance to network and gain intel on others, a fact that is proven by your mind raper guy.” Aru’ka said, pointing to Linker who was being held up, but was still clearly woozy from whatever Aru’ka did to him.

Truth be told, Aru’ka seemed calm and poised, the center of control, but there was a violent rage hidden behind those bright blue eyes that spoke of barely restrained wrath. That was the moment Wondra was certain, she had seen that same look in Judge’s eyes fifteen years ago, when she warned Judge that leaving now would ruin her career in the League, that they would automatically fail the pair.

“There are some things that are more important than your stupid League, and if you cannot understand that, well then fine. We will make our decision and trading her, for you, is nothing.” Judge’s words from the past rang out in Wonrda’s mind, so crisp and clear as if she had just spoken them. At that moment, that memory had been buried for years, another failed Super who failed to put the League above all other commitments.

Wondra remembered how she called out to Judge, as she was strong, poised, and beautiful, the trifecta needed to make it as a spokesperson for the League. Judge and Warder had been failed that day for dereliction of duty and been relegated to making a name for themselves with the Tri-state area. Such a sad ending to what an otherwise exceptional career for a pair of two up and coming Supers.

Now looking at this warrior before her, the one who was singlehandedly staring down every member of the League, made Wondra’s skin tingle. They were related, Judge and Aru’ka, that much was undeniable at this point. Then another part of that conversation came back when Judge left in a hurry, she remembered her comment that seemed incongruous at the time. “We will make our decision and trading her, for you, is nothing.”

Seeing Aru’ka now, Wondra was fairly certain that the her, that Judge spoke about all that time ago was none other than Aru’ka. At that so many thoughts flooded Wondra’s Apex over-clocked mind. While Intelligence was not her highest Attribute, it was one she had invested in heavily over the years. This made it so when she put her mind to things, they were easier for her to comprehend. This was partly why she was able to see what was glaringly obvious, the reason why Aru’ka would be so offended by people like the League coming here. People who as she had stated had abandoned her parents, people whose only real reason for being here was to schmooze her, only to realize they had collectively burned that bridge fifteen years ago, and were now paying for their harsh recruitment tactics.

“Oh, come on, you can’t just kick us all out, we are the…” Mophisto began, but Wondra saw the look of contempt that was building up within the healer, the sole reason why they were here now, and he was ruining their chance at ever recruiting her, and he was ruining it with his big mouth. Seeing that there was nothing else she could do, other than to take control of this situation, Wondra acted.

“We apologize!” Wondra said, springing to her feet and bowing low in a heartbeat.

“Whoa!”

The gathered crowd that was still filling in, with the last thirty minutes before the ceremony was set to start, murmured at the disruption. Then they all did a double take seeing who it was that was now bowing and offering a seemingly heartfelt condolence towards Aru’ka. A person that was still allowed to speak, indicating that those who were in charge of this operation felt she had a right to speak in front of everyone, as a means to maintain order. Again, everyone was missing the signs that were clearly in front of them. This was why Wondra continued to speak.

“We did not mean to offend you, or your family by our actions, that was not our intention here today. Today we are only here to pay our respects to a great man that strode to make the world a better place.” Wondra said, remembering the last part from his entrance essay that seemed too cliché to be real at the time. Yet, after seeing the entirety of his life’s work, Wondra couldn’t help but feel that she, like the others, had been too jaded to see the truth in those words that were right there before her.

There was a tense pause, as Aru’ka seemed to analyze the moment, and finally came to the conclusion that kicking out the League might cause more of a spectacle than she wanted to deal with at the moment.

“Very well then, you all can stay, so long as you are only here to pay your respects.” Aru’ka said, her tone ice cold as it was clear that any shot the League had at recruiting the young magical phenom was not going to happen today.

“Thank you.” Wondra said, bowing once more before sitting down quickly. Then with an icy glare she looked both to her right and then to her left, making sure everyone knew that it was now her reputation that was on the line. Everyone looked like they were cowed, even Titanus knew not to say anything when Wondra was in this mood.

“Ooh, mother hen getting all her unruly chicks in line.” Salazar, or Vibranium, spoke from the right wing of seats. They too were in the third row, but they had been forced to sit on the right wing, likely a sign to denote the lower standing of their guild in the view of the world, or the funeral organizers.

Aru’ka who had been about to go back to her seat, turned and gestured to Vibranium and said, “strike one for The Clan as well.”

“But only strike one, right?” Salazar asked.

Aru’ka nodded, “correct, only strike one.”

“We can live with that, and thank you.” Vibranium responded.

Slight chuckling.

With Vibranium’s antics the tension that had been building over the area began to dissipate. With that Aru’ka nodded and then moved to sit back in her seat.

Sigh.

Once Aru’ka sat down, Wondra let out a breath of air that she did not even realize she had been holding. That whole thing had been too tense for her liking, and she was not ready to be embarrassed by having her entire guild kicked out of a nationally publicized funeral.

After a moment, she leaned forward and saw Salazar, wearing his ridiculous bright purple Vibranium costume, still he too leaned forward and over the rows of people they locked eyes. That was when Wondra, Apex Super of the League bowed her head in thanks to Salazar for helping to break up an otherwise tense situation.

Then a few minutes later, when the funeral service was just ten minutes from starting, Linker came back up.

Linker (Moderator): Sorry about that, we are back up now.

Wondra: What happened?

Linker (Moderator): As per my previous instructions, I was given permission to scan the surface thoughts of one of the female pack members. During that time, I… I got attacked and felt like all my energy was being forcefully ripped away from me. After that, things went dark, and I awoke a few minutes ago to you bowing and apologizing.

Hearing that, Wondra wondered what had happened. If someone could drain Linker by his mind just reaching out to establish contact with someone that person too would be invaluable.

Wondra: Who did you try to link up with?

Linker (Moderator): I tried to link up with the odd boy that reminds me of someone on the second row far right.

Wondra: So that boy can drain you of your energy once your mind made contact with his mind? If so, then we need to reach out to him. That power, well the possibilities are endless.

Wondra spoke in chat, letting her thoughts flow freely. It was also clear that she could not let her thoughts go off on her own, as apparently someone had to monitor these kids and Titanus was not going to do it.

Vision: It wasn’t the boy.

Wondra: What do you mean, it wasn’t the boy?

Vision: It wasn’t him, I saw the entire thing play out. Linker did reach out to the boy’s mind as he stated, but then when he made contact, I saw the moment that tendrils of power from Aru’ka reached out and grabbed Linker’s power threads.

Mophisto: For my own clarification, what is the difference between a tendril and a power thread?

Vision: Just what the name should imply, the lines of power that came from Aru’ka were easily twenty times as thick as the small threads Linker sent out to enter the mind of the boy.

Hearing that Wondra once again wondered what type of monster this girl Aru’ka was. Having seen her healing powers in person, she had no doubt about the value she would add to a team. Added to that her ability to take down dragons, and that only added more value to her, but then to make it so she could stop a magical attack on an ally from what? Ten feet away? That was impressive to Wondra.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to pay the respects to a great man…” The preacher began.

And with that, all the chatting that had been done a moment ago suddenly stopped, as everyone wanted to pay attention to the funeral service that was beginning.

Everything was quiet, Linker even went so far as to clear away all previous records so that no one would be distracted during the services.

That was why, the message that came next caught everyone by surprise.

Vision: Holy shit, what the heck is with that magical light coming from the casket?