The soft couch felt amazing as Liam’s body sank into it. The padded leather snuggling against his tired body. It’d been a busy day and Liam was grateful for the moment of relaxation.
With his muscles uncoiling his mind followed suit. There were so many things left to do, but the couch was singing its siren’s song and Liam could not fight it. Verse by verse the song took hold and Liam’s desire to stay awake waned as a faint touch of sleep washed over him.
The sleep was a restless one as the sounds of the outside world kept creeping in. They rose and fell, like waves gently washing against Liam’s subconscious. Rocking to the sound he imagined the team on a ship, the water beating against it in rhythm to the world outside.
On the calm sea the team pushed forward ever on the lookout for the next great adventure. No obstacle baring their way. As they sailed, H-Bar manned the crow’s nest, always leading them to greater excitement, while Gladius and Skip adjusted the sails with ease. No matter where they went the wind was always behind them. Pushing the team over the next horizon. As they raced from adventure to adventure Ullr stood stoically at the helm. His presence alone enough to lend support to the team.
But there is an end to everything, and a day came where the waves grew large. The beautiful blue sky turned an angry black as a storm blew in.
With waves crashing onto the deck it became slick with seawater. When a giant wave hit, Liam lost his balance and was sent wobbling over the edge. At the last second he grabbed hold of the deck as the inky depths of the sea threatened to swallow him whole. Reaching up, he called out for help, but was met with the indifferent eyes of those around him. Ullr and Gladius glanced at Liam’s helpless form before going back to fighting against the storm. H-Bar started climbing down from the crow’s nest, but the storm forced him away. Skip didn’t even bother to turn from his task while Liam begged for help.
As wave after wave crashed against the ship Liam’s grip began to give. The strain was too much and he lost hold, sent crashing into the maw of the water below. It’s cold clutch strangling him of what little warmth was left.
A jarring feeling of a hand shaking him pulled Liam out of the dream. A figure materialized above while Liam’s eyes adjusted to the sterile warmth around him. He was at the base, he realized, as the cold from a moment ago began to drain from his system. With his brain working through its reboot Liam breathed in. Registering the figure looming above.
“The team will be back in a minute. Look alive,” Ullr said. Leaving unsaid the fact he’d just caught Liam sleeping. Grateful to be woken before the team arrived Liam stretched and got to his feet. If they came back to find the new guy sleeping, he would never hear the end of it. Sure, taking a nap was normal for a Hero, but having just started, he was more worried about giving the team ammo to tease him. Liam could imagine H-Bar asking if he needed a nap whenever the team was about to do something. It wasn’t a vision he wanted to come true.
Even after the fight at the bank, the interviews with witnesses, and the news conference Liam could be called back for an emergency at any time. He knew something would have to change going forward. He couldn’t be allowed to fall asleep early again.
Liam was about to thank Ullr for the wake up call when there were two more people standing next to him. Skip teleported in, silent as a ghost. Bringing H-Bar along for the ride.
Seeing the team’s newest Hero, H-Bar shouted, “Tell me everything!” The look on his face was the same as a kid when they walked into a candy store.
Skip was gone before H-Bar started to talk and back before he ended, Gladius in tow. The speed at which he could jump was something only the best teleporters could match. It was obvious how he made it onto a Hero team. But it was strange to compare the process from the outside against going through it. When Liam was teleported the jump appeared to take minutes not the instant he observed when others teleported. Strange the way some powers worked.
As Gladius walked towards Liam, he noted that she came from a different part of the room than H-Bar. Skip was staying well away from the puddle of the first jump, even though his jump juice, as Gladius called it, only lasted for a few hours. The man must hate getting it on himself, Liam concluded.
“New guy with the day one victory!” Gladius said, fist pumping in the air.
“Quiet down he’s about to tell us what happened,” H-Bar said.
“Great I was afraid I’d miss it.”
As H-Bar and Gladius were peppering Liam with questions, trying to force him to tell the story of the fight, Skip couldn’t seem less interested. After a quick glance at Liam and the others the older Hero jumped away. Appearing again near the kitchen table, a small puddle of liquid forming where he disappeared and reappeared.
Jolting Liam from his thoughts Matt said, “The Foods ready. There will be plenty of time for stories later.
“You had me at food,” H-Bar called. In a quieter voice to Liam he continued, “Story as soon as we get to the table.”
The team made their way up to the counter. Grabbing plates and filling them with Matt’s specialty course of the night, steak with a side of mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables. It showed yesterday’s meal hadn’t been a fluke. This was the kind of food Matt made every day. Liam loaded his plate with an extra helping of mashed potatoes, he’d always loved the things and couldn’t stop himself from getting a little extra.
Settling down to eat Liam cut into the meat. It was mouth watering. The seasoning just right, the cut juicy, and seared to perfection. More proof of Matt’s excellent cooking prowess.
As Liam fought the urge to swallow the entire steak in one bite, the rest of the team was also enjoying their meal. Conversations forgotten as they all stuffed themselves.
Satisfying their hunger could only last so long. Eventually H-Bar’s curiosity got the better of him and he came back to the question from earlier.
“Let’s hear it! How did you beat Mr. Shock?” H-Bar asked.
“How about we let Source finish his meal? Why don’t you tell us about the hostage rescue first,” Ullr said.
“But the new guy,” H-Bar said as he looked at Ullr. After a moment’s thought, he continued, “Fine I’ll start.”
H-Bar began his story from the point where the team split up. The explosion still ringing in his ears he raced to the front of the bank, Gladius lock step beside him. Pulling in light as he went, H-Bar formed it into a series of small white stars. Each swirling around his hand in elongated orbits. As they reached the front of the bank H-Bar shot out his hand. Sending one of the stars flying into the glass pane of a window. The sound of shattering glass was amplified as the light burst against it. While the glass was still raining down H-Bar dove through the window. Landing amid the hostages.
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Gladius was only a step behind as she soared through the new opening. Sword and shield in hand, charging straight at Cat’s Cradle. Just as they were about to collide, H-Bar threw out his remaining light, connecting it and molding it into a dome around himself and the hostages. His first goal was to sever any of the webbing still on the victims, counting on the dome to be enough to protect everyone in the ensuing fight. With safety ensured he went to work removing the restraints. As he worked, impacts from the fight outside rocked his dome of radiant white light. The fight outside was heating up, but he couldn’t help. He had to protect the hostages at all costs. Leaving Gladius alone, as she faced the onslaught of Cat’s Cradle.
As H-Bar told his story, Liam was drawn in. The fight over the hostages was the thing of movies. If only he’d been there to get it all on tape.
Gladius took up the story where H-Bar left off. The dome had just deployed as she charged the Cowl, facing her one on one. As the distance closed, Cat’s Cradle grabbed furniture with her wires, sending it hurtling at Gladius. Gladius’s armor bashed away chairs and tables alike. Splintering the wood into dozens of pieces. With the debris raining all around her Gladius trudged forward unwilling to give up even in the face of such stiff resistance.
The exchange of attacks that followed was swift and fierce. With every blow Gladius pushed the Cowl back until she broke through her defenses and scored a hit to the woman’s side. As a redness from the wound mingled into the Cowl’s suit she flew backwards, gaining some space before redoubling her attacks. But as quickly as the fight started it cut off. With Cat’s Cradle being pulled into the very ground itself. Where Gladius was unable to follow.
Liam was left breathless by the end of the story. Such a fight had occurred mere feet from him yet he’d never be able to enjoy it. As Liam was debating the idea of looking into the lobby’s security cameras and hoping they captured something, Skip spoke up, “She ran away when you got there, didn’t she?”
“I think she bolted during the explosion,” H-Bar said.
Wait, they made up the entire thing? It was such a good story, how could it be fake?
“I thought as much,” Skip said.
“What can I say. I’m a sucker for the dramatic,” H-Bar said. Not even a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
“We babysat the hostages,” Gladius said, her voice cracking while she talked. “I could hear the fighting next door, my blood was boiling as I listened. I wanted to join the rest of you. You know me Ullr, you can’t tease me with a fight like that.”
“I’ll make sure you’re front and center next time.”
“I’ll remember that.”
H-Bar ignored the other two and said, “So, you heard what happened with the hostages. Now it’s your turn to tell us about your adventure, oh fearless newcomer.”
The comment drew in the rest of the table. All heads turning towards him. Where to begin with his tale? That was the question. He could try to spin something like H-Bar, but had little hope of matching the man’s flair for the dramatic. Thinking about it there was only one logical thing for him to do.
Pulling a controller out of his pocket Liam hit a few buttons. With ease he took over the team’s wall display, the one Ullr used earlier in the day to show a map of the city. Repurposed, the screen revealed Ullr racing towards the hole in the bank. The camera, attached to Liam, followed close behind.
Pointing to the video Liam said, “How about you watch?”
The team looked on in silence. As the video showed the three Heroes making their way into the bank where they faced down a group of Cowls. Seconds later Liam was alone as Ullr and Skip chased after their chosen opponents. Facing down the biggest of the Cowls there was a brief pause before their fight started. The initial rounds weren’t very flattering to Liam. His attacks failed again and again only to have the Cowl’s punch send him flying through a glass wall. The highlight of the video was the final trap which drew a cheer from H-Bar and Gladius. The latter slapping Liam hard across the back.
When the video finished Liam looked towards his team. Gladius and H-Bar were beaming at him. While Ullr stared on impassively, no real surprise there. But the worried look on Skip’s face as his eyes darted between Ullr and Liam was unexpected.
“We’re trading spots next time,” Gladius whispered.
Liam nodded with a smile before Ullr took over.
“Let me start by saying that was a brilliant fight. Way to lure the man into your trap,” Ullr said, “But I have to ask, are you always filming?”
Why would Ullr care if he was filming Liam wondered? Unless he was he worried Liam was doing it now, inside the base. Liam spoke up, “It isn’t sound activated. It only films when I physically turn it on.”
“Is there some indicator to that?”
“There is, on the HUD. You can also look right here for when the lens opens,” Liam said as he tapped the camera in his suit. “I only plan on having it on during fights and at crime scenes.”
“I’m sure it would be useful during both. My concern is how the public will react when they find out.”
“Clear invasion of privacy,” Skip said, leaning forward.
“It’s not that. It’s legal to record in public,” Liam answered. He’d done his homework and knew there was no issue with the law. Many cities even required police officers to wear a body camera.
“It is, but will the citizens see it that way?” Ullr asked.
“I’m with the boss on this one. It could become a hassle if the public finds out,” Gladius said.
“It has to go,” Skip said emphatically.
Remove the camera. That’d be crazy. It was such a useful tool when reviewing crime scenes. The static images the police take could miss or distort evidence, but not his camera. With the thing recording as he worked they’d be able to go through every detail later. Plus there was the advantage it gave with training. Being able to review fights and analyze how he could improve was invaluable.
“It’ll be great information and help me train for future fights,” Liam protested.
“That’s true. Maybe there’s some middle ground we could reach,” H-Bar said.
After a little thought Ullr said, “How about you only use the camera visibly. For example the camera pops up from your suit and a light on it turns on whenever you record. Since it’s so obvious, the public will know when it’s in use and won’t think you’re invading their privacy.”
That might be a fair middle ground Liam thought. He could use the camera when reviewing a crime scene or during an interview. The problem was creating something that could withstand the rigors of combat. If the camera was sticking out of the suit it’d be easy to damage unlike his current one which was encased in the suit’s armor. He’d have to think of a way around that issue, but right now he was drawing a blank.
“I could make it work,” Liam said.
“Then it’s settled,” Ullr said with a nod.
The meal continued into the night. The team pointing out things Liam could’ve done differently during the fight. Some were simple changes in his attack patterns, while others were much broader suggestions like his situational awareness. In all it was very useful and Liam was grateful for the team’s help.
After a while the discussion moved away from the fight to other matters entirely. Like H-Bar’s ex who was a teacher. She never knew he was a Hero. Something that’d been a real drag for H-Bar. Instead he told her he was an insurance salesman and having almost no idea what they did, he was forced to make things up. While he was good at that there was only so many times you could tell someone you sold a policy to a movie star before it became suspicious. While H-Bar was telling the team about the third such incident Skip left. Having received a text about a late night errand he needed to run. None of the team made any comment about his sudden departure, but it struck Liam as odd. Maybe he had a late night rendezvous with a lady friend?
Over an hour later the meal ended and the rest of the team dispersed. H-Bar letting Liam know he’d only touched the surface of his fake insurance salesman life. Promising plenty more stories in the future.
Leaving the table Liam was beyond exhausted. His body needed rest almost as much as his mind. The walk back to his room was a blur as the bed at the end of the journey was sweetly calling to him. Enticing him to lie down and wash away today’s stress and tension. Before Liam knew it he was curled up in bed. Sleep swallowing him right after.