I looked over at Roxy as the quake-wagon rolled across the wastelands. The teleportation had taken us to the place we had entered, and we had scrambled to our vehicles as quickly as possible. In the rear-view mirror as our tires kicked up clouds of dust, I had watched and waited for the molepeople to emerge, but we weren’t pursued. Maybe they were cutting their losses.
Now, with the artefact barely secured in the back of our vehicle, I wanted some answers - as there had been no conversation between us for the last ten minutes.
[Time to open up.]
Roxy blinked a couple of times before turning her eyes to me. She looked tired. “I had a rough time of it down there,” she managed.
Physically, other than the exhaustion, she looked fine. Hadn’t taken too much damage, with her suit showing the brunt of it. Mostly caused by herself. Not knowing how she managed to grab the artefact, I was certain it wasn’t as simple as knocking on a designated building and asking nicely.
[No pressure. I’m here when you are ready.]
The super tilted toward the door, leaning her head against the window and closing her eyes. At first, I assumed she was just going to rest and be silent for a while, to the point where my muscles tensed up as she spoke due to the surprise.
“Being around you helps me feel better. I just need to process in silence for a bit. It’s nothing dire, so don't worry, Dubs.”
[You ask the impossible, but I will remain resolute.]
I caught the slightest hint of a smile at the side of her face before I returned my focus to the way ahead. In all fairness, I had an equally strange feeling rolling around the back of my mind… but that was definitely because of the artefact itself.
It had spoken to me. Or at least communicated in some manner. Magic had always been some mystical energy source up until this point, so I hadn’t expected some degree of sentience to it. Clara was attempting to set up containment for it for when we returned, so I hadn’t been able to pick her brains on the subject. If she was keeping it a secret, then I could only imagine the boost would be great, but not guaranteed.
Nothing ever came that easily.
The others all looked fine on the run to the vehicles, some manner of tiredness and relief at escaping the underground cavern clear on their faces. Any potential naysaying over the need for us to put ourselves at risk for such an unknown had been blown away after finding the World Government office and their stash of plans.
Even ignoring what all that meant, I was drawn back to what Silhouette had said.
He had known the Government had been there. I was eager to jump to the conclusion that he had been the one to kill them off. An equally likely and completely opposite truth might be that he was working with the Gov, but hadn’t heard they had been killed. It was clear he didn’t want us getting involved either way.
I was hoping that finding out whether he was an ally or enemy from my past would have been a more simple process. Questions just gave rise to vague answers, a middling pot of unclear portents. I had a good feeling I’d eventually find out the hard way.
The silence, other than the rolling of the wagon over the rough terrain, was eventually punctuated by the ding of a message through my lens.
//Clara: We are receiving comms from the League.
//Clara: They want to see you tomorrow, Gunquake.
//Dubs: Do you think they had eyes on us?
//Clara: No, this is likely for induction as it is for you only.
I exhaled, the filters in my re-breather spinning around as my eyes focused back on the way ahead. Still possible they wanted to just off me solo.
[Looks like I’m going to see the Director tomorrow.]
“No rest for the wicked,” the super replied idly, before turning her gaze over to me. “Not about today, I hope?”
I shook my head. While I didn’t know for sure, what Clara said made some sense. If Silhouette had informed them of what we were up to, or if the League had other ways of tracking us, then they’d be a lot more forceful than requesting I come visit the next day. As powerful as we were, if they dropped the S-Rank team on us, I doubt we’d survive. Maybe even some of the A-Ranks.
While my thoughts were trying to drag me toward what my meeting might actually entail, I was distracted, as I could sense Roxy’s eyes still on me. I turned briefly to raise an eyebrow.
Her first response was to sigh, before the energy and reluctance finally sunk out of her. “I say that a lot of the time I love being strong… and it’s true. It’s always meant safety and control, you know?” She pulled a face and looked out at the wasteland. “Any annoyance or hurt over how people view me, or the comments from trolls online, that’s only skin deep. At the end of the day, I can punch through walls and withstand gunshots. Who gives a fuck?”
I let the silence after her statement linger, giving her the space she needed to vent.
“But… tearing up that mole place… I didn’t feel like a strong hardass chick, or even a superhero. I felt like a monster.”
[Due to your lack of control over your new powers?]
Roxy shook her head. “That’s the thing, Dubs. I was fully in control. It was a willful choice to melt through my cell door and start killing anyone who attacked me. I’ve been a hero for a while and seen plenty of criminals shit themselves when I turn up, but the look on the faces of some of those guards…” She sighed again.
I understood it, but I didn’t think relating to her really helped with her inner turmoil. Killing had come easily to her at first, but she’d hit that wall of self-reflection. Something that gave her enough pause to realize what a danger she was.
“Am I a monster, Dubs?”
[I won’t sugarcoat it, Roxy. You hold in your hands a frightening amount of power, even though it’s not fully realized. Depending on the choices you make, you have the potential to be a dangerous threat to all life in Goldarch and beyond, or a stalwart protector. The latter option will be much more difficult, mentally and emotionally, in the long run.]
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m pretty sure you lose boyfriend points for not immediately reassuring me, asshole.”
[I respect you too much to not be truthful with how I feel about it.]
“Alright.” Roxy smiled slightly and leaned her head back. “Nice save. Thank you, Dubs.”
[Perhaps I’m also the last person you need validation from as well. It wasn’t that long ago I was a hitman for hire. My moral compass is fucked.]
“At least that was a job, though. Right? You weren’t killing people for the fun of it or just because you could.”
[True.]
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. As much as I took pride in my work, it was just that - work. We were stretching the definition of that in our wasteland adventures, but everything had been for a point. As my mission at the hobgoblin forge had proved, I didn’t need to kill. It wasn’t a compulsion or something I was eager to do. Instead, murder was a solution closer be being a valid tool than it was for most people. Roxy included.
“Well,” she said, sighing once more. “I don’t want to make this a habit. Some… normal-ass hero work would be a nice palette cleanser. Cuff some robbers or knock over a money laundering front. Feel like a good person.”
[Is this where I’m meant to earn boyfriend points by reassuring you that you are a good person?]
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“No need. I know I’m a terrible bitch who is closer to a living nuke than a paragon of heroicism. One bad day from blowing my top and… burning down a city block or some shit.”
[You’re kinda cute at least.]
She shook her head and looked out the side window. “Prick.”
I could clearly see the smile on her face from the faint reflection on the glass. Part of me felt guilty for guiding her down this path. If I hadn’t shown up, then she’d just be miserable at the League, but have a simpler life. That said, she was happy being around her own team once again, and with having her career have a resurgence. A shame that it took this new and conflicting power to get her to that point, but it was just growing pains.
Some time within the city limits might do us both some good. With the team rebranding and my actual reveal to the populace, I was sure we would be busy enough to wash away these worries we’d been having. She had control when on duty, and the League wouldn’t abide by us bloodying our hands with watching eyes around.
“I hope this artefact was worth it,” Roxy said, breaking the silence. “It gives me the creeps.”
A feeling we both shared. I was marginally sure that it spoke or communicated with me in some manner. Whatever magical energy it was filled with was uncomfortable, and I had my concerns over what Clara wanted to do with it. Once again, as if she could sense I was thinking about her, she sent a message across through my lens.
//Clara: I would like to borrow Belle and yourself when you get back, Gunquake.
//Clara: Perhaps tomorrow you can also pick up the material from the mining outpost.
//Clara: I have sent over the molds to the forge for preparations.
Things were really happening all at once. Once I had my own version of Sanguine stakes, I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d be using them for. Insurance, mostly. The time I first craved the hero-piercing bullets was from before I was so entangled with the League. Now relationships were more complex. I shifted a quick glance over to the super.
[Have you thought about where we’ll go for our date?]
“Extensively,” she replied, without hesitation. “Our options are surprisingly thin, given that we will both be minor celebrities.”
[Plus there's taking out anything that involves eating.]
Roxy shrugged. “Well, I don’t hold that against you. Restaurants and cliche shit would be cool, but it’s not really us, you know? Our relationship has been a quick series of bursts forward, and I think the conflict has drawn us closer together.”
[Trauma bound.]
“Deathforged,” she correct, rolling her eyes at my phrasing. “We’ve both changed since we first met, and I’m pretty sure us becoming partners in heroics this week will be another step and change. I’m fucking dreading it, if I’m honest.”
I nodded and checked the mirrors to make sure Ren and the others were still behind and doing fine. They were.
[We’re balancing on several different knife edges. Unfortunately, I think tying your fate to mine is going to be an unending series of trials and struggle.]
“Eh. At least the sex is good, right?” She rubbed at her hair, dried flakes of blood falling onto her suit as she waited for my response. I gave none. “Cold bastard,” she eventually concluded. The super closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair, a smile on her face.
Not that I disagreed or anything, I was just trying to trick existence into thinking I was neutral about it. The truth was, I was content. More than that. Happy. If reality got too strong a whiff of that, it’d surely throw a spanner into my gears and mess me up. Perhaps that was just pessimism. More likely, part of me was just scared that this love could be taken away from me. Not every problem was a shotgun cartridge away from being solved.
We were quiet for the rest of the way back to home base. Our adventure had been short and arduous, and the long drive just compounded the exhaustion. Clara had already given me instructions for where and how to store the artefact in the warehouse, and as much as I wasn’t looking forward to handling it again, I didn’t want it sitting around in the back of the wagon any longer than necessary.
As I pulled up across the dry dirt to park up beside our buildings, the techie was already there—her cybernetic eyes practically glowing with excitement.
“Such a shame I’m not home tomorrow,” she started, in lieu of a proper greeting. “I have so much work to do, Gunquake.”
I grunted as I shut the door to my vehicle and looked back at the others pulling up.
Roxy walked around to join me, a dull look on her face. “Told the gang they can sit around and chill. We’ll draw lots for taking turns in the shower.”
Clara tutted and put her hands on her hips. “Would certainly be more efficient if this was a harem, wouldn’t it? Then you could…” she paused as the super placed a hand on her head.
“I’m just going to ignore you, hun, as the alternative is twisting your little head off.”
“Having your hand in position ready certainly adds a convincing eloquence to your threat, sister.” The techie gave me a smile as she was released. “Please move the artefact, Gunquake. If you could bring Belle as well, I want to try something with the mech.”
[As you wish. You might as well count the two of us out for first showers then, Roxy.]
The super gave me a nod and went to meet the other three emerging from their vehicle as I sighed and went to the back of the quake-wagon. I opened up the door and scowled at the mysterious cube. As much as I wanted to tell it not to try talking with me, I was in no hurry to seem like I was losing my mind. Ten toes down, I leaned forward and took a grip on the handle.
It felt… awkward. I could still feel the echo of magical energy within it, but it wasn’t trying to reach into my mind. Yet, I held it at arm's length. Followed the techie through into the larger warehouse, where a table had been prepared.
Eying up the cases already open and ready to receive this object, I half considered asking Clara how or when she had the time to get all this ready.
“It will go to the workshop soon, but this table has wheels and being contained will be safer than having you lug it about back and forth.” Clara tilted her head and frowned. “I probably should have brought this out to the vehicles, Gunquake, huh?”
I placed the object down, the cube almost clicking into place perfectly to the open box that then folded up around it. Thick transparent windows gave a clear view inside on each flat surface, but the whole thing locked up with a hiss of compressed air.
[Are you going to tell me what this is for yet?]
Clara stared intently at the artefact for a few moments before turning her gaze up to me. “Honestly, Gunquake? I’m not sure. Every artefact is unique, and without knowing fully how this generates or activates the latent energy, putting it into a definite and concrete technical application is impossible. Before you think I sent you out on a wild chase after vague potential, I believe with my full heart that this will be important.”
[It is a piece of the puzzle.]
She grinned and nodded. “Correct. I have a… lofty vision and do not hold all the pieces. You just have to trust that the full picture will be worth the effort.”
[If it plays a role in getting my new arm, then I’d go through much worse. I trust you.]
“Thankfully, Gunquake, the rest of that process won’t involve running bloody errands through the wastes. A lot of hard work and technical mastery on my end, and the hobgoblins pulling their weight… even then, making a whole new arm is quite the feat for me.”
I nodded and gestured to the workshop. No doubt the mech was waiting there for the next step in whatever she had planned.
[You’ve seen me out in the field, Clara. There’s no chance I’m switching to some off-the-shelf garbage cybernetics. Whatever you are designing, I want it. I have full confidence in your ability.]
“Please, Gunquake.” She smiled as she led me out of the warehouse. “You’ll make me blush. I already have two basic cyber-arms disassembled on the workbench, the blueprints of five others on my computer, as well as detailed measurements of your current specs.”
[Are you sure you don’t have any clones?]
“Believe me, Gunquake…” She gave me a glance and a coy smile. “You’d definitely know if I did.” Halfway towards the next building, we met up with Belle, who looked rather glum that she wasn’t in line to get washed up anytime soon.
“You requested my services?” She raised an eyebrow at us both.
“A tale of runes and crystals,” Clara confirmed, as the three of us went through the door.
Now with more space in the workshop thanks to the storage boxes moving to the warehouse, there was plenty of room around the inert mech for the three of us to stand down at one end of the building.
The techie gave it a brief kick, her ire for the ancient magical automaton clear. “While I am yet to master the runic spells that give this thing protection, and nowhere near close to understanding how it works at a core level, I am also tired of its presence. Dispel it, please.”
I tilted my head to the side and looked at Belle—who just returned a shrug. Over to the side, one of the benches was covered with pieces of paper where notes and attempts at replicating the runes had been made. I was pretty sure that Comprehend Languages wouldn’t give me any clue about what they meant, and it wasn’t like her to give up. The metal itself was just more useful to us at this stage.
If the hobgoblins were going to be forging or shaping the parts for my new arm, then that wasn’t a simple or short process. The sooner they could get on it, the quicker I’d have the custom tech.
I held out my hand and felt warmth surge through me as I attempted Dispel. The mech resisted and fought back against it.
“Here.” Before I had the chance to vocalize my failed attempt, Belle was beside me with her hand on my arm. “Try drawing on my crystal pack as well.”
With a deep breath, I calmed and repeated the motions, this time pulling on whatever threads of power she could lend me. At first, the mech wasn’t having it. Like a metal roof buckling beneath the weight of a snowstorm, I felt the magical energy twist and crumple away before dissipating. I shook the pain away from my hand as I looked down at it, before then up to the techie to confirm.
She wasn’t even watching, but was tapping at an instrument of some kind she had withdrawn from her outfit.
[Everything okay?]
“Perfect…” She scowled at it before looking over at us as if she had forgotten we were still there. “Perfect. More data collected. Now I just need to ply Rockslide into breaking a leg or two off and see if she can melt it.”
“She got first lot for showering,” Belle said, wrinkling up her face. “Which was… debatable, but none of us were about to argue. You saw how she looked.”
[It was a rough day. Thank you for going along with it.]
She nodded and wiped her hand on her robes. “Certainly more involved than what the League usually wants from me… although that might change soon.”
Even more than our double lives as heroes and cleaners for the League, as well as our adventures on the side, we were about to kick up more hornets' nests with the other surprise still sitting in the Quake-wagon.
[Let’s see what they say when I bring them the World Government documents tomorrow.]