The wind whipped through my freshly cleaned hair. If it weren’t for the metal gun in place of my arm, I’d start wondering if I were actually a new man. Some of my dialogue choices hadn't seemed like my normal fare, and not being swaddled up was quite a change. Still felt... exposed, even if it was technically more protective than my previous outfit.
Super suit was certainly a stark change, and other than responding ‘okay, bye’ to my intention to leave, Roxy had given me an up-and-down with her eyes more times than seemed necessary or efficient. Definitely had been some words hiding behind her bitten tongue there.
Of course - now she was behind me, on the motorbike as we thundered across the dry ground of the wastes. Hands around my midsection, which seemed unnecessary given her strength, but I had too much swirling around in my head to tie down any concrete thoughts on that.
Clara had given us the go-ahead, and we’d left the house in silence. I didn’t know the exact specifics of how the League spied on her—and maybe nor did she—so we took as few chances as we could. Operating out of who knows where, the techie had confirmed that Roxy’s location was still being reported as being in her house. If I was being watched, then I’d come up with an excuse for going out this far… but we’d cross those bridges later.
Considering I flirted with death regularly, I was reluctant to admit that I was actually somewhat nervous about this. Not only because this might be some ruse and I was about to get a shallow grave out in… well, no. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have nursed me back to health. She even looked like she wanted to take me up on that ice-cream offer, so it was difficult to assume she might still have some ill intent toward me.
It was just… me.
Learning something about my current or old life, or about what was truly going on with her sudden neighborly appearance and me being dragged into League bullshit. I was hungry for the knowledge, but worried I might be allergic. Wasn’t equipped for what the reaction might be. Violence, most likely.
Across the rocky expanse of the wastes, our destination loomed into view. A group of ruined buildings. At some point a scientific outpost or similar, until an accident destroyed it and sent whatever organization funding it packing. Something about the tech or resulting fallout had made it a dead zone for communication - hence the name. Nobody liked to come out to the wastes, so it was left well alone.
The bike slid to a stop, now near silent after Clara had torn the noisemaker out. I flicked the switch off and looked over at the nearest building. Stone that had been bleached white from being out in the sun unprotected for so long. My eyes ran along the group of decaying structures for any sign of mutants or other people unhappy with our entrance.
Seemed clear.
Roxy hopped off the back first, before I moved myself onto the ground. Her eyes looked at me expectantly, and I gestured for us to go to the nearest building. A little shelter from the walls should give us extra privacy, even if the roof was gone.
As our boots crunched through the loose gravel, I held up my wrist to see my STAR. A trio of green lines worked their way across it at an angle, repeating once they went out of frame. Completely frazzled. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to do anything to my neck or gun-arm, so I could breathe relatively easy. Even if my stomach was knotting up.
We stepped into the brief shade of the half-building. The roof had collapsed inward, so it was mostly cluttered with broken brick and tile. A pile of trash long dried and burned away sat in the corner. I checked my STAR again to be sure. Still wavy.
I gave her the nod, apprehension not allowing me to speak first.
“Right…” She shuffled awkwardly. “Can I just say that I am both super giddy to see you in that suit, but also completely terrified because if we fuck this up, the League will straight up kill me?”
[You can say that. The second thing is the more important of the two though - why take the risk?]
“I’m sure you’ve picked up on the subtext that I kinda dislike the League.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
[Clara too?]
“She’s… her story isn’t mine to tell, but I’ve been close with her since she joined. I trust her with my life and she doesn’t have much love for them, either.”
I nodded. If you’re found to have a super power, then it’s either join the League or be earmarked as a ‘villain’. The techie might not have a power, but perhaps her skills were otherwise causing her to be an important asset in the League’s eyes. Wasn’t sure how that tied in to me yet.
[So, what do you have to tell me?]
Roxy took a deep breath, still cautious about letting the information out. “To start with, I don’t know everything - so apologies in advance if all this edging is a letdown. First thing is… the League is looking to track down your Boss.”
I nodded again, slowly. That made some sense at least, but didn’t really change my internal mood. Boss was the head of a hitman group, so I imagined that plenty of organizations would like a stern word with him.
“The reason they moved me in next to you was to try to pry information out of you.”
[They… knew I was working for Boss?]
Not to mention how completely ridiculous the idea was that I somehow wouldn’t be suspicious of the super just appearing and wanting to be my friend… although, it had led this far, so maybe more the fool me.
“Yeah. For a while, from what I can gather.” She grimaced and looked toward the open doorway. “The work you do is illegal as shit, but the way they see it, you’re picking up some of the slack that the cops can’t handle.”
[But as soon as I deviated from killing only criminals…]
“That’s why I was questioning you. I wasn’t lying at the casino, though. About being in the League’s bad books and needing the job to succeed. Problem was, the bust was you, not the mob perp.”
[It was too much of a coincidence for you to turn up there. You haven’t exactly been questioning me about Boss, though.]
She shrugged. “Eh, it’s hard to bring that up naturally without sounding even more suspicious than I already was. My soft skills are pretty shitty. So, they sent the wrong fuck up, because I didn’t really want to screw you over like that. In a betraying way.” Her eyes went to my suit before staring at some of the rocky debris on our side.
Initial friendliness explained. At some point she realized I was some manner of a kindred spirit that she could get along with - a rarity for her, it seemed. Still, there was more to come. I could sense it by her awkward stance.
“Of course, once they saw you in action… they didn’t want me to chase information on Boss…” Her eyes came back up to my face, some of the exhaustive worry showing in her eyes again. “They wanted to know more about you.”
[About me? Wait. When did they see me in action?]
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“Something about a disk drive being recovered?”
How quaint. They had set up their own contract to retrieve something they had planted. Watched me in action somehow and set some man and a handful of ghouls up to die. I felt that it should anger me… but it didn't. Just numb still. If Boss hadn’t lied about my aura…
Had they seen me take out the scientist and villain too?
[I feel at a loss knowing that I have not lived in as many shadows as I had hoped. Why are they watching and trying to get to know me?]
Roxy took a deep breath and swallowed. “Okay, so this is the bigger thing… because we might have a clue as to who… or at least what you used to be.”
My chest tightened, which was painful for my recovering muscle and organs. I tried to consider whether I truly wanted to know - I could always run for the bike instead. But no, I had committed to coming out of my shell and burning a new path. With a nod, I took a deep breath of my own.
[I am ready.]
“Dubs, you’re… some kind of super soldier.”
The words struck me in unison like a clasp of throwing knives. Looking down, I found my psyche and sense of self unharmed. Looking at my physique and knowing what I was capable of, it made perfect sense. Unsurprisingly, even if it needed actually saying to become fact in my mind.
“Clara has been trying to dig up information, but a lot of records are scrubbed, like your unit or whatever the fuck was destroyed. You were supposed to be dead, so I guess the League is interested to find that you have been reborn under your Boss.”
[The code you tapped on my muzzle?]
“She found a partial list of ten callsigns that your group used. I only memorized three of them, so we lucked out when you pushed me to be truthful back there.”
[Mm. I apologize for that.]
She shook her head before she relaxed and ran a hand through her hair. “It’s fine. I knew you’d have a breaking point, and they’re severely underestimating your intelligence. But like I said, we’re even now, okay?”
[Agreed. So the whole housewarming and clone thing…]
“All their set up - although I honestly didn’t know they’d be giving us that mission. Was hoping to palm you off to Clara for most of the party and give the League the middle finger. Didn’t think I’d even convince you to come over…”
[They didn’t consider you using physical violence to sway me?]
“Nah.” She gave me a soft smile. “League said to use a soft touch. Well, they wanted me to be a lot softer… but I could tell from the outset you were attracted to other things already.”
[Murder?]
“Like, being miserable, you asshole.” Roxy rolled her eyes. “A workaholic who allows himself to wallow in filth because he thinks he doesn’t deserve to live like a normal person isn’t going to be bowled over by the first gal who flutters her eyelashes at him.”
[Plus, it’s not your style.]
Her eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
[Even when you were lying to me about your intentions, I never felt that you were being anything but your honest self. That amount of good-natured down-to-earth earnestness is… well, it’s clear as to why you don’t fit in at the League.]
A few emotions ran through her face before she settled on a pout. “Dubs. That might just be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
[That is both sad and disappointing.]
“Yeah.” She sighed. “So… any of that jog your memories? It was one thing that the League was sniffing around for your Boss, but now that it’s you, I’m… worried.”
I raised my left hand and rubbed at the side of my head. She had replaced my nutrient cannister, probably twice, during my recovery - which was considerate. Otherwise, I’d be in an even bigger jumble mentally. Did I remember anything?
Being a super soldier didn’t mean I had any powers, despite the similar name. It just meant I was engineered in some way to be a step above baseline people. Strength and recovery, maybe agility. It felt as though I would have been used to combat something, rather than used for some menial task - especially with Roxy’s extra information about the callsigns. That spoke of a specialist squad that worked together.
As I stared blankly at the super, I felt as though my purpose was on the tip of my tongue - but I didn’t have one, so instead I just shrugged.
[No sudden realizations I’m afraid, but it gives me something to work with.]
She smiled again. “Clara is going to keep digging when it is safe to… but I should ask if you’re okay with finding out about your past? Here’s me being an asshole again, asking after I’ve already told you.”
[It’s fine. At some point I did not want to know, but have come to terms with it.]
“Thank fuck.” She kicked some gravel about with her boot. “So, what now?”
[We need to get you out of the League.]
“What?”
[They are stifling you and you are unhappy there. Think of what you could do free of that.]
“And do what?” She crossed her arms and scowled at me. “Come work for your Boss and never bathe again?”
I sighed and looked out to the amber wasteland, still baking under the relentless sunshine. Despite feeling like I could trust Roxy now, several things put into question my relationship with my employer. He had granted me this life… but that shouldn’t mean I am beholden to him.
[No. That is beyond the point. We have other avenues to explore, and you have changed my worldview when it comes to hygiene.]
“Ugh.” She rubbed at her eyes. “You’ve clearly been reading too many cliche romance novels, Dubs. You can’t just promise things will be okay and then it’ll work out. If I leave the League, I’ll be a villain. The other options are… there’s just no way for us to accomplish that.”
[There are World Government Sanctioned Enforcement Agencies.]
“But the requirements of a SEA are just… not only a fuck ton of money, but you need guarantors, a sparkling blank criminal record, personality and intent tests… between the two of us, we’re fucked.”
She had a point. Not used to this whole optimism thing, I had become a little too idealistic. Time to bring it down a few notches.
[How about for now, we just agree to keep each other safe? We’ll play along with the puppet masters, but by working together we’ll stay a step ahead.]
I held out my left hand for her to shake. After running her tongue across her bottom lip, she smiled and gave a nod before clasping and sealing the deal.
“Sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship, Dubs.”
[More of a continuation.]
She maintained the smile and eye contact as we shook hands for much longer than necessary. Eventually she blinked away the brain freeze and let go. “How much time do we have left? Did we cover everything? I didn’t make like an itinerary or shit - I’m so bad at this sort of thing. Oh! While we’re out here and nobody can hear, I want to say that my manager Stacy is a fucking bitch and one day I’m going to smash her stupid teeth in if she talks to me like I’m a toddler again.”
I ignored most of her word salad. Mostly glad that the Dead Zone hadn’t fried my vocalizer, otherwise this would have been a very awkward conversation. While Roxy seethed over a couple of other terrible coworkers, I tried to ground myself in the changes wrought from the revelations she had brought to the table.
League wanted to keep an eye on me… and probably test me in some way. Perhaps I’d know more later after Roxy had given in her report to them and they could devise a different way of turning the screws. Maybe I’d send Boss a message and see if he had any contracts for me to pass the time - if I stopped working, he would know something was up.
There were plenty of other questions, but nowhere for an answer to spring forth just yet. I needed to give my mind and body a little more time to recover… and to adjust to this new stage in my life. Part of which involved wearing this tight super suit, apparently.
“…suck on a fucking cactus dick!”
[Hey, Roxy? Do you have facilities to wash clothing? I assume my super suit will need cleaning at some point in the near future.]
“Oh? I mean, yeah I do. You’ll probably need more than one suit though… do you like it?”
[No. But you clearly do.]
Her mouth opened for a couple of seconds before closing. I filled the silence, seeing as she didn’t seem to want to deny it.
[It should be effective though and offer me more protection. I’m sure in time I will grow accustomed to it. Certainly better for my health and better than running around fully naked. I won’t even ask where you got it from or how you measured me, on the basis that you get me a few extra ones.]
Roxy nodded her head slowly. “Oh… sure. Ah, how long did you say we had left?”
I checked the static timer in my lense.
[Doing fine, but we might as well head back if…]
The sound from my vocalizer slowly fizzled away as I stopped talking, and instead my head tilted to the side. With a raised eyebrow, I looked to Roxy - who appeared to be able to hear it too. I stepped out of the building and into the sunlight.
“What the fuck is that noise?” She came out beside me and put a hand above her eyes to try to look out toward the horizon.
[Mutants.]
I raised my hand out to point slightly more to the east. Shapes among the shimmering heat of the distance. A lot of shapes. Riding noisy old-tech vehicles powered by gasoline. Dying to a group of the miscreants wasn’t on the cards, but I hadn’t loaded up expecting a fight.
“We can outride them?”
[Possible, but I do not want to guide them in the direction of our houses.]
Quite the bind. Emergency ten-mag was on the bike, but the approaching vehicles would house at least twice that. If we got unlucky with which gang it was, we’d be in for a lot worse than just being killed and eaten. We didn't have the time for anything protracted.
I turned to Roxy to try to prompt the safest solution of losing them in the wastes in a different direction than where we lived even if it would be tight on time... but she wasn’t there.
Twisting back to the ruined structure, I watched as she strode back out of it, now with a length of thick rebar in her hands.
“How about I be your sidekick for a hot minute?”