Despite the swirling emotions inside my skull, I managed to keep a steady hand while I loaded shells into another magazine. I cast a raised eyebrow toward the doorway, where Clara was leaning with her arms crossed.
“Don’t look at me like that. I am just as annoyed as you are.”
Her facial expression hadn’t changed at all, so I wasn’t sure how much I believed her.
[This is something I am forced to do?]
“You could opt out, but then that would put your cover story into question. Potentials are supposed to be eager as sin to get their trial.”
The panic that had been on Roxy’s face lent credence to this way of thinking about it. If I declined and they didn’t believe I had good reason to, it brought my actual life as a very illegal contract killer bubbling to the surface. Something that would lead to arrest… or more likely the Captain would ‘accidentally’ end me all over the super's lawn.
“I didn’t expect this to be your house. It looks like…”
[A kill room, yes.]
“No. A kill room should have disposable coverings over most surfaces. Drainage and somewhere to either hang or store bodies. You don’t even have running water.” She must have been able to see the look in my eyes, as she gave me a dismissive shrug. “I read a lot of true crime and murder mystery. Specifically, a series that follows a robotic detective where his intellect is only one of his many appreciable assets.”
[I… see.]
“I tend to over-share when I am nervous, my apologies.” She wrinkled up her nose and turned from me to look out of the not-a-kill-room and out to where the supers were preparing.
As I continued to load my ammunition up, I tried to run my mind over the short briefing Roxy had blurted out for us all.
Factory district just to the east. Some mad scientist type had been creating clones to build an army. League had finally got the intel and Roxy’s fledgling group happened to be the closest to the scene to run the contract… or whatever they called the missions heroes did. Clara didn’t usually do fieldwork, but her presence meant she could assist with a miniature drone for keeping an eye on us, as well as other helpful logistics from her van.
She seemed almost as displeased as me about being roped in to this excursion, and had assured me that coming to the party was predominantly for the selfish reason of getting to know me and my tech.
I could almost believe it was all coincidence, but for as much as I was slowly growing to trust the two women… in the back of my mind, I knew something was up. Too long had I spent in this life having dealt with death and bullshit to ignore when something smelled like bad news. I just hadn’t found the angle yet.
[There won’t be media or recordings for this, will there?]
“As a provisional, you’ll be scrubbed from any marketing materials.”
Not entirely convincing. There was also a good reason I didn’t want the League to know about me full-stop. Did I need to update Boss about this? I affixed the mag to my belt and gingerly tried to put one of my found bandoliers over my shoulder - only getting it tangled up around my gun-arm.
[Ah. Sorry, Clara. Could you assist me?]
She turned back to face me and gave me a short nod. “I realize this is an uncomfortable situation for you, however your options seem to be playing along or to run for the hills. There is danger in both directions, but you will have Rockslide assisting you… and the opportunity to shoot people guilt-free.”
Not that I particularly enjoyed shooting people - that sort of emotional reaction to the act was a terrible road to tread. Practice was always important, and I wasn’t in much mood for running.
Clara moved my bandolier into position and tightened the strap before giving a glance over at my crate of ammunition. “What are you taking?”
[Drum full of normal shot. Ten-mag of Tazer. Ten-mag of High Explosive Slugs. Three each of Smoke, Rubber, and Liquid.]
She bit her lip. “No Shredder or Drill? Surely you have some Flash?”
[I work with what I have.]
With a glance toward the door, she exhaled through her nose again. “I’ll tell you a secret, Mr Dubs - I usually work with assault rifle or laser weapon variants… but they design so much more interesting options for shotguns. I feel like we’re going to have a very fun partnership.”
“You two ready?”
[Duty calls, I suppose?]
I grabbed a spare cannister and stim pack before following the tech out into the air. Wasn’t as freeing as before, and I was half tempted to find out how my front door lock could hold up to a whole group of supers. Sanguine stakes on my belt pouch, but I had decided not to mention those.
Roxy stood with hands on her hips, either practicing a pose for the eventual news clips, or trying to put on a brave face for what was about to be a whole bucketful of shit. "Right… in the interest of all getting there at the same time, we have decided that I will hitch along with you two, and Roy and Belle will go with Wren to the nearest heli landing zone.”
I gave a forlorn look back to where my bike was hidden. Probably would be too overt. I wanted to keep attention away from me as much as possible… so the van was the best bet.
“We’ll meet you at the corner of 74th,” Wren called, as she corralled her two problem children into her vehicle.
“Shotgun,” Roxy hissed, turning toward the van before realizing that might be an odd thing to call out in front of me.
[Probably for the best. I assume my little device will run out soon enough.]
“Oh, fuck.” She turned an apologetic grimace toward Clara. “We best step on it, hun. I knew I should have gotten more than one.”
Doors opened. We got seated. Door slammed shut like a jail cell.
I sat in the darkened back of the vehicle, wedged between computers and stacks of tech, as the van shuddered to life. There was an internal struggle where I wondered if perhaps I had died during one of my contracts… the Python might have actually got me? Maybe Roxy had actually killed me in my sleep that night I heard her? It was the only way I could make sense of my current situation without feeling like this was a weird dream.
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The sensors ticked up as we moved away from my place of safety - which had both now been overrun with villains and heroes. I should have fled from the outset and got Boss to relocate me. Right now I could be in bed recovering from some near-death injuries after a contract completed, rather than… heading to a villain’s lair to defeat an army of clones alongside a group of asshole heroes.
In the passenger seat, the prime antagonist leading me down this path turned her head. “I’m so sorry, Dubs. I honestly… dragging you into League work was the last thing I intended.”
[I would be screaming in terror but I don’t think the vocalizer is picking up my intention very well.]
“Oh, don’t. I feel terrible. It’s just shooting some people though - and I’ll do most of the heavy lifting for you?”
“I don’t know,” Clara interjected. “I am interested in seeing how Mr Dubs performs. My feeling is that he is even more proficient than you alluded to in our many discussions about him.”
“Clara,” the super responded through clenched teeth.
As much as their current conversation was something to note for later, I found myself too preoccupied with the looming assault on the clone factory. Would have been nicer if this was nighttime, but I had waived my right to be choosey a long time ago.
“Just saying, Mr Dubs has a skill-set that will pair well with yours… if he can keep up.”
Roxy seemed content to grind her teeth at the woman rather than confirm or deny the statement, but I felt as though the tech might be right. Close range strength super with a mid-range support had composition benefits. Depending on how this army was equipped, she might even be able to punch through the whole thing herself.
[On the contrary, I am keen to see what the great Rockslide is like in action.]
She looked back at me again and pulled a face. “I can’t tell how genuine that statement is.”
[I see.]
Her eyes rolled, and she turned back in her seat to face forward. “I sure know how to pick them, huh? I’m glad you two knuckleheads get on at least.”
“Mr Dubs is surprisingly affable and has interesting cybernetics. By the way you described him, I was expecting someone… less intellectual, and more... what word was it you used? Stacked?”
“Clara.” The super exhaled. “Did you at least have time to get all the upgrades and shit sorted?”
“Indeed. I am practically giddy at the prospect of what we’ll be able to do.”
“I can tell - it’s been a while since I’ve seen you this animated.”
A frown across my brow, I looked between the grinning super and impassive tech. Perhaps I now had a newfound understanding of how Roxy could read my emotion or intent behind some of the terrible things I’d say - although there had been certain times where she had appeared confused.
“All you have to do is keep him alive for me.”
“Easy.” Roxy looked back at me. “You trust me to keep you safe, Dubs?”
An interesting question, and not something I could answer immediately. I looked at the woman, her amber eyes patiently awaiting a response. The edges of stress just peaking past the smile she was putting on.
I knew for certain I did not trust the other supers in her group. The League, I did not trust. This opportune event where I could be mixed into their problems - also something I did not trust. Forced friendship? Untrustworthy. True intentions, unknown.
Things had a way of floating to the surface in time. I just had to be patient and continue my existence long enough to find out.
[I trust that you will not allow me to die.]
She continued the smile and nodded. Turned back to view the road as we entered the city proper. I could tell that wasn’t the exact answer she was digging for, though - but it was all I had to offer. If she had an ulterior motive for getting close to me, then I’d need to be alive for that… so even in the worst-case scenario, I still trusted her to keep me from meeting my end.
It was enough of a wet blanket that we continued the rest of the journey in silence. I closed my eyes and tried to think of an excuse to get out of this… but with my bike at home, I wasn’t eager for a long walk.
Eventually, I just accepted it. Arranged things so that they suited my tastes.
I was going on a contract, that just happened to involve supers. First time for everything, and the sharp hue of my internal trickery made it hurt my mind’s eye a little less to stare at. Just view it as a kill contract. Mad scientist needed erasing, and I’d chew through the apparent army protecting him to achieve the goal. The reward could be the verbal contract with Clara for a prolonged dose of needed upgrades.
Yes, that made this all almost acceptable.
“Mr Dubs, there are earpieces in the drawer with the red handle in front of you. Rockslide doesn’t like it when I give constant directions, so you’ll have to take on the burden.”
[Understood. Am I correct in assuming some manner of plan has been decided already?]
“Correct. While the current group lacks experience together, the League has trained them in their intended roles quite well.”
“Hey, I’m sitting here, you know?” Roxy sighed and gave in, turning her head to me. “Our job is to be the main meat-grinder. Start at the first instance of threat and kick the shit out of everything. Point A to B. Wren will be taking the outside and keeping an eye on the place to take out runners or watch for anything big picture we’re missing.”
“That information is relayed to me, so I can tell the group.”
“Right. Roy will start by scouting and disabling traps or mechanisms that might slow our progress - but the excitable fucker will get into fighting, eventually. Belle will protect the back to ensure we don’t get surrounded, and we can fall back to her if we need assistance.”
[Remarkably reasonable. I will endeavor to fulfill my role as best I can.]
“No need to kiss my ass.” She gave me a glum smile before turning around. “I got you into this shit, so no judgement on you for whatever happens.”
Be that as it may, I was unlikely to sit idle while she did all the work. Professional integrity would have me doing my best - I couldn’t help that. Another silence filled the van as I leaned over to withdraw the earpiece.
“Your… Boss would probably be pissed about this, huh?”
I looked over at the super, her tuft of bright red hair gently swaying as the van turned a corner. Did she feel some guilt over potentially souring my working life? It would explain the jilted weight she gave the question. In honesty, I wasn’t sure Boss would like this or not. I’d probably find time between surviving the event and having my face plastered over every magazine to let him know what I had gotten up to.
[Perhaps only if I died.]
The van rolled to a stop, and the engine switched off. My internal organs continued to swirl around for a few seconds after, clearly something on their mind.
“Get Dubs set up with the tech stuff. I’ll go round up the assholes.” Roxy popped open the door and stepped out, some of her usual flair missing from her expression.
Clara made the decision to turn in her seat and clamber over it to get into the back area, instead of going outside to the back doors. With a sigh, she rubbed at her forehead, before assisting me with the earpiece that I was struggling to get into the right place.
“You know, Mr Dubs. It’s nice to have someone augmented to talk with. Usually people are eager to question me about my eyes, but I feel no such… curiosity from you.”
[Both you and Roxy have been very accepting of how I am, when I usually keep to the shadows to avoid judgement and hatred.]
“Hmm. Hatred?” She exhaled. “Some people hate supers, Mr Dubs. Some people hate women. Some people hate certain clothing styles or individuals who follow specific sporting teams. If someone hates you just because you are built different… well, that says more about them than you.”
The earpiece clipped into place and Clara turned to start flicking switches, lights and screens blooming into life.
Kind and respectful words, but it wasn’t just my appearance that I thought the common citizen would find appalling. Killing my way through sections of the city’s underbelly was unpalatable to most, even if you could smother it with the blanket of vigilantism. That was a point, though…
[Will my aura have any negative effect on your drone or devices?]
She paused, her hands hovering over a miniature keyboard, before she turned her head to me. In this darkened space, her green eyes bathed everything is a similar dull light. “Aura, Mr Dubs?”
[Correct. I have something that disables cameras and communication devices within close proximity.]
Half expecting a continued blank stare, her eyes instead narrowed as she frowned. “Half the van wouldn’t be working if that was the case. Who told you that you had such a thing?”
It was my turn to stare blankly at her. If I had a mouth, I imagined it would have opened and closed a few times, as I struggled to find some words that made sense. My brain worked overtime to try to find answers - going over my past for discrepancies.
Before I could organize a succinct response, the back door of the van popped open, flooding the awkward cave of confused technology with daylight.
“Time to go, Dubs,” Roxy said. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”