I let the question sit for a few seconds. What did I know about the Five Eyes gang? The answer was, of course, relatively straightforward… the issue was what would be appropriate to divulge to present company.
As I maintained eye contact with the Director, he waited patiently for my response with an expression just as neutral as my own. Rather unfair of me, as only my eyes behind the green tinted goggles were visible, but my poker face held steadfast all the same.
[I know that Rockslide arrested a few of them and they held a grudge against her.]
Director Kingston steepled his fingers together and he regarded me with slightly more intensity. “Did she tell you that?”
[No. The wizard pretty much told me before I blew a hole through his chest.]
He nodded, and his expression didn’t change. “I imagine it would have been difficult to give you that information after the fact.”
[At the time I wasn’t that invested in helping Rockslide out, but they were in my yard being a nuisance. Before I had my vocalizer, I did most of my diplomacy via my gun-arm.]
“Something that often works in your favor. Is that your only interaction with the gang?”
[I also murdered the other four villains in their group.]
Surprisingly, the Director didn’t budge a millimeter. I had a feeling that he probably knew a lot more than he was willing to give up, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked me about the gang. Whether this was a ploy to see how honest I would be with him or if there was an alternate explanation remained to be seen.
After a few seconds of silence, he gave me a short nod and placed his hands on the table. “We weren’t entirely sure, but had a feeling you were involved. Villain groups don’t just turn up dead under our watch.”
[Contract. I figured it might have been a test through the League using Boss as a middleman.]
“No. While the results are… interesting, we wouldn’t have put you in that much danger. The fact you were sent against a whole group and are still here in one piece is impressive.”
I was certain that Clara might have a dimmer view of the results, given that she scooped my ruined body out of a ditch to make sure I didn’t die. That said, I had gotten pretty lucky despite sticking my neck out somewhere it didn’t belong.
[They weren’t expecting me, so I had the pleasure of fighting them one at a time. Was your question solely for fact-finding reasons?]
Director Kingston gave me a slight smile. “Your criminal actions are all wiped clean, but it is beneficial for us to put a lid on that case. We do not execute villains, even the worst of them… and the Five Eyes were far from the worst - but what has been done is done.” He adjusted his position in the chair and pulled a folder out from the side. “The reason why I ask is that they weren’t entirely independent.”
[They had someone pulling the strings?]
The man grunted. “Not… exactly.” Silence followed, save for the sound of turning paper. Once he was satisfied he had the right pages in front of him, his eyes came back up to regard me. “There have been talks of some of the villains grouping together to form their own… organization in Goldarch.”
[A League of Villains?]
While he didn’t immediately confirm this, the way he winced when I said it was like I had poked him with a sharp stick.
“Luckily, most villains are too corrupt and disorganized to put anything solid together, but steps are being made. There’s someone who was planning on using the Five Eyes to cement some of the foundations.”
It would probably be a bad time to bring up the fact that it sounded like the League had problems both within the city, as well as outside of it. I was happy enough to be the sharp end of a solution aimed toward the mutants and others the World Government were ushering our way, but babysitting villains in the city sounded outside my wheelhouse.
Oh, I should pick up a cheese wheel later too.
[Are they looking for revenge?]
“They blame the League for the deaths of the gang, despite it not being something we do. There is certainly a lot of boiling blood and gnashing teeth going on in the shadows, I assure you.” Kingston turned one of the pages over and pushed it towards me. “The reason I am bringing you in on this loop now is because your hero work might put you at odds with some of this unofficial group.”
I took the page in my hand and ran my eyes over the words. In some ways, I didn’t blame the villains. The League of Heroes maintained a balance between people with powers, and it was one-sided. Naturally, it leaned toward putting the law abiding side as the dominant ones, but I couldn’t fault those underfoot for wanting to fight back and find their own way to live. If it wasn’t for what I could provide for the League, then I knew which side of the line I’d be put.
[So this… Lord X is the one in charge? I assume then we’re looking at potential hits on heroes, bribes and blackmail to switch sides, criminal gangs joining forces to take greater swathes of the city?]
The Director gave me another wry grin. “Shame there’s only one of you, Gunquake. Some of the other Directors downplay both the World Government meddling and the increase in criminality due to Lord X. They’re too settled in thinking everything will be fine and that we have perfect control. A realist like yourself is difficult to come by within these walls.”
Perhaps I understood how he saw me a little more now. Why I had been given the red carpet despite the circumstances. I was the wolf in sheep’s clothing. I knew how villains and criminals would think, and what was possible. I could do the grim task of erasing those threats if necessary.
[It is a mistake to assume your enemy is incompetent. If anything, I would expect downtrodden villains to be more energized and motivated to succeed than most of the coddled heroes you have under your wing.]
“My thoughts exactly.” He clicked his fingers and exhaled, deflating into his chair on hearing me validating some long held frustrations. “The others don’t understand that the status quo is difficult to maintain because people—at a base level—are chaotic. It only takes one madman to rock the boat. If the board of Directors believe we are untouchable because of the S-Rank heroes, then… well, that’s putting all the eggs in one basket.”
[So you want me to keep my eyes open for Lord X or the League of Villains machinations and put a stop to them?]
“Given your history, I’d rather it was just reported to the League. Lord X is currently designated as an A-Rank villain, but they have been in hiding long enough that things could have changed. I’d rather you didn’t die so soon into your employment.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
[Especially after getting me those new clothes.]
And all the grenades.
“You’re a valuable asset, Gunquake. Not only for your experience, knowledge, and capabilities, but also your connections with the Natural Disasters. While you have my full support, I’d steer well clear of Director Greyham. You haven’t met him before, but he thinks engaging with you is a mistake and would rather have you out in an unmarked grave in the wasteland.”
[I have nothing to say in response to that, without sounding threating. Since we are keeping this an open working relationship, perhaps I could ask you a question?]
“Be my guest, Gunquake.” He leaned forward as I passed him the sheet of paper back. "I will be honest with you, as you have me."
[You took my blood and saw that I had Advanced capabilities. Do I have a superpower or anything else that you could see?]
Director Kingston raised an eyebrow and sighed.
----------------------------------------
My brow was furrowed all the way to the quake-wagon, through my shopping trip to the nearest supermarket, and for most of the way back home. The time spent at the League was… well; I wasn’t sure if informative was the word for it. I could get whatever ammunition I needed, and my outfit would change very little. There was another threat hiding in the city that I’d need to look out for, but other than that, nothing had really evolved.
I pulled up beside the workshop, a small cloud of dust wafting past the vehicle as I stopped. Roxy was out in the garden, sitting on one of the deckchairs. My scowl melted away as I popped the door and stepped out to walk over to her.
She looked tired, wearing some loose shorts and a tank top, covered in sweat. As I approached, she lifted her head and gave me a sour pout.
“This power is balls, Dubs. If I were a dude, I could run around in nothing but a speedo and really max out my lava bullshit.”
I stood and rubbed the side of my head with the barrel of my shotgun.
[Perhaps the lava obscures you enough to not appear too lewd?]
“Nah.” She leaned back on her palms and wrinkled up her nose. “I tried it, and I very clearly have lava nips.”
[Prove it.]
“Fuck you.” The super smiled and gave the deckchair a pat for me to sit. “How was the League shit? I figured it would either be super boring or they’d try to murder you.”
I sat down beside her and relaxed as she leaned her head on me.
[You shouldn’t put that out into the world. Much closer to the first assumption. I got to meet the heroes one place above us as well.]
“Oof, awkward. They aren’t our biggest fans, even before we started fighting on the rankings.” Roxy fidgeted slightly. “Something, something I used to drink way too much.”
[Say less. I’ll murder them all.]
She sighed. “You shouldn’t put that out into the world. It feels more real now, though—right? Being a hero and everything.”
[It does.]
It did. While the day had been mostly going through the motions, I was all but an actual superhero in the eyes of those that ran Goldarch. Sure, they had to make a show of my appearance so that the public knew me… but I saw how people looked at me in the supermarket. Selling me as a villain would be a lot easier.
[I also found out what my test said.]
“Oh?” Roxy sat up away from me and raised an eyebrow. “Do you secretly have a superpower?”
[No. Nothing surprising on there, really. Well, aside from one thing I had suspected, but the League didn’t know at the time.]
Her eyebrows raised in tandem. “Don’t keep me in suspense, Dubs.”
[I have… relatives.]
“No shit? Is that… are we talking Silhouette?”
I nodded. Not exactly a surprising revelation when Kingston had put the cards out on the table, but something about making that a concrete reality had me feeling strange. I had no information about my prior life before adulthood. However we became super soldiers, Silhouette was at least an actual brother to me. Whether the rest of the squad was direct family wasn’t something the Director knew or could tell me.
“We’re going to need a bigger garden if we’re going to have family hanging out here as well.” She grinned and gave me a pat on the leg. “I worked up quite the hunger practising my power while you were out. Join me in the kitchen?”
[I can do you one better than that - I brought some groceries on the way home to cook you something.]
Roxy bit her lower lip. “I don’t think I’ve ever been excited about domestic life before, Dubs. That’s your fuckin’ superpower.”
Perhaps it was. Part of me had hoped that the Director would reveal something… like I had exceptional luck or something strength related to survivability. Instead, I remained a gathering of different minor powers, and my dice rolling was a streak slowly bouncing toward an inevitable snake-eyes. A pessimism that I wasn’t able to hold on to once I met the super back in the kitchen.
While the room filled with the heat and smells of cooking, she sat on one of the stools and gave me doe eyes and a wide smile the entire time. It was nice seeing her in a better mood than yesterday. I told her about the Five Eyes and Lord X, to which she was thankful the League didn’t hold the murder of the gang against me. A potential villain organization gave her some brief concern, but it soon melted away. She also didn’t see it as much of a threat.
Knowing what I did about how the city was running, I could understand that. Dropping the S-Rank heroes on any real threat would stamp out the embers of rebellion amongst the underworld. Still, I was pretty well-versed in reading people, and I trusted Director Kingston when he said this was a big deal.
“I’m surprised you didn’t get changed into something more comfortable,” Roxy said, taking me out of my idle thoughts.
[I have more work to do after eating.]
She grunted, knowing that I didn’t mean what she was currently imagining. “Picking up that ore from the mutants? Can I call shotgun?”
[Sure.]
While the outpost wasn’t a huge fan of her, I would appreciate the company. I wasn’t about to admit it out loud, but the prospect of my inevitable unveiling to the general public was… something that felt uncomfortable. With Kingston and the Natural Disasters, I had the best support I could ask for - but after years of hiding in the shadows, this final step out into the light had the lingering threads of my old life trying to hold me back.
I dished up the meat and vegetables, only partially envious of the super.
“Oh, Dubs,” she said, taking in the steam rising from her plate. “This is perfect. Reminds me of home… which is comforting with how odd I’ve felt since yesterday.”
[It’s almost as though that was the intent when I was deciding what to cook for you.]
Roxy stood up and leaned over her food to plant a kiss on my re-breather. “You’re a sweet motherfucker. It’s going to be nice to have some downtime for a few days before the shit hits the fan.”
[You don’t think something dire will crop up on a day-to-day basis?]
“Don’t even, ass.” She sat back down and lifted up her fork. “Most superhero work is boring, so get used to living through some dull weeks.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. Either she was avoiding reality to remain happy for at least the rest of the day, or she had forgotten all the loose ends dangling around us. Silhouette and my past. The World Government rousing up animosity in the wastelands. Lord X bringing together the villains in the city to rise up against the League.
Probably a few things I had forgotten. That said, looking into her fiery eyes full of joy... it was difficult to care about all that right at this moment.
[Bring on the boredom. I’m sure we can make our own entertainment.]
“Just you wait.” She gave me a wink before digging into her food.
//Clara: I’ll be home late today.
//Clara: Captain is currently at the League for his meeting.
//Clara: Rockslide, yours is tomorrow morning.
//Roxy: Fantastic. Thanks, gremlin.
//Clara: How was yours, Gunquake?
//Dubs: Rather boring, no new tech to speak of.
//Clara: That won’t do. Let me call them.
“That won’t end well,” Roxy grumbled, her eyes moving back away from her intangible STAR chat. “Oh, once we’re public, there’s this place the three of us should go.”
[Oh?]
She wiggled her fork at me. “Nothing crazy. There’s a park I really like, we can have an odd throuple picnic.”
[I look forward to it. I’ll go freshen up and get the quake-wagon ready.]
“Sure. I love you, Dubs.”
My feet paused at the doorway, and I looked back at her.
[I love you too.]
In all honesty, I didn’t really need to freshen up. Yet, I went up to the bathroom all the same, and closed the door. Instead, I just looked at myself in the mirror. Same as I had been for… weeks? Gauging the passage of time was difficult when we were constantly at odds with everything.
Even though I was the same, I felt different. As i flexed my shotgun arm in the mirror, my brow furrowed. The more my past had been uncovered, the more awkward my built-in weapon felt. With the amnesia it was easy to accept this was how I was. The itch of knowing I had a hand before made the lack of it more of a thought at the front of my mind. I was eager for Clara to finish her design.
The chamber clicked back and forth and the V-Force drive hummed into life before fading away once more.
No, it was still a part of me. I just needed patience. One day I would have another opposable thumb and perhaps even a mouth that could eat. Through Clara’s inventions and the League’s protection, I had a future.
I unclipped the clasps over the canister in my neck.
Cyborg or not, I’d keep rolling those dice and keep winning for as long as I could.