Time flew by like an arrow. Relentlessly pushing forward. Headless of any who tried to stop it.

“Source over here.”

“Look this way.”

“Source, question from news nine.”

The reporters slung questions at Liam as he tried to control the chaos. News conferences always started orderly, but it didn’t take long for that order to be lost. Like a pack of unruly school children they yelled out questions at the first chance. Choosing one of the reporters, Liam signaled for him to ask a question and the others quieted down, for now.

“It’s been over a week since the second super related murder this year. Is the team any closer to uncovering who is committing these heinous crimes?”

The big one right away, Liam thought. Not that there was much surprise in it. Everyone, Heroes included, wanted to know who was committing the crimes and how to stop them.

“That’s part of an ongoing investigation, so I can’t tell you much. But I can say we are making progress.”

“That’s what we hear every day. When will we see results,” another reporter asked.

“I know this is frustrating. Everyone agrees about that. What I can tell you is we’re going through the evidence systematically to ensure nothing is overlooked.”

The news conference carried on as Liam did his best to answer the dozens of questions thrown his way.

…

The street outside was dark, quiet, and hot. Close to record-breaking heat for this time of year and here he was, sitting in a van. Boiling in the simmering heat of the enclosed space.

Peeling his shirt from his skin, Liam cranked up the fans. Their constant buzz a pleasing sound. For it brought a grateful breeze to the back of the van.

Liam would’ve preferred to roll down the windows. Getting a little circulation through the space. Or better yet turn on the AC. But he couldn’t. The van had to be quiet tonight. As if it’s owners ‘Friendly neighborhood plumbers,’ from the writing on the side, were gone for the night.

Trying to distract himself from the heat, Liam glanced at the displays in front of him. A dozen screens stared back. Showing nothing more than a sleeping neighborhood.

Looking at his watch, Liam was near tears. He’d only been here for an hour of his four hour shift. There was so much night left for him.

Liam’s mind wandered as he debated making something to stay cool on a future night like this. There were so many possibilities. But the only thing that mattered was it kept the heat at bay.

The feel of the drenched shirt sticking to his skin pulled Liam back to reality. The cooling device wouldn’t be done for days or weeks. Until then he was stuck with his soaking clothes. Tonight would be a long one.

...

Liam walked through the neighborhood. A little kid spotted him and pointed from behind his mother’s legs. Noticing the kid, Liam waved back in the friendliest manner he could while concealed in his suit. However, it wasn’t designed to look happy, and the kid pulled back, white faced.

So much for making friends on this patrol, Liam chided himself.

“Maybe I do the waving from now on,” Gladius whispered from Liam’s left.

She, like the rest of the team, had a way with kids. Something Liam was still working on.

“You talk to the mom and I’ll meet the little guy. Sound good?”

“Will do.”

“Great, now let’s get to work, and you stop frightening little kids.”

...

“What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since moving to our fair city?” a man with slicked black hair asked.

The man was sitting on a cushy chair across from Liam. A squad of lights and cameras pointing at the two. Liam fidgeted in his cushioned chair, not that he could feel them through his hardened suit, before he answered.

“There have been a number. I think the biggest is remembering everything the team is teaching me. Everyone’s been so nice and has so much experience. Sometimes I can’t soak it all in.”

...

A bang echoed in the early morning hours, the blast throwing a door off its hinges. The team raced in a moment later. Gladius darting in to the left while Ullr went right. Liam brought up the rear.

The room that greeted them was empty, save for some broken furniture littering the corners. Another bust Liam thought as he scanned the space for any hidden threat.

They hadn’t found their target today, but that didn’t mean their job was done. The team still had work to do, cataloging the space and seeing if any of the broken furniture was hiding a clue.

...

Liam stood at a podium in front of the gathered news teams. A stiff breeze washing over those assembled as leaves floated down around them. It’d be a beautiful day if Liam had something good to tell those here. However, as with all the reports before this, today brought nothing new.

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...

A classroom of children stared up at Liam, expectantly. Many of the little kids couldn’t contain their excitement as they were meeting a Hero for the first time. One of them stood up to grab Liam’s armor only to be reminded by the watchful teacher to stay seated. She was setting appropriate behavioral expectations for the class. Something those this young needed.

...

Liam looked at one of the wall displays in his workshop. It was devoted to the team's current activities and split into sections. The first section showed the hunt for Phaser. All her known associates and sightings were marked. With failed attempts to capture her marked next to them. The team was almost to the point of trying another capture attempt. Which was not where they wanted to be, but you had to work with what you were given.

The next section of the display showed the work being done on the gym lead. The police had taken over that search so all Liam could do was keep track of their actions. So far they’d sent undercover agents to probe those who worked out at the gym. Looking for anything strange or additional connections between the two victims. But, as with the search for Phaser, nothing had come up. Still Liam kept his head up, knowing this search could go for a long time.

The last section, on the far right, was dedicated to public relations. Talking points for the team's public relations blitz were at the top. Followed by recorded school visits, patrols, and interviews. All to calm the public. While that battle was still raging they had managed one notable victory in this sector. Preventing the word serial killer from spreading. Knowing full well that if these cases were not solved soon it would. Opening up a whole new can of worms.

All of this extra work prevented the team from having much spare time. Only finding an hour here or there. In one such moment H-Bar and Liam met. Liam, with a small screwdriver in hand, fiddled with the lights on H-Bar’s suit as the other man looked on, unblinking. It’d taken some time, but Liam was happy with it. H-Bar was the proud owner of a new suit.

As Liam worked out the last kink, his eyes sparkled. Finishing a project always brought a sense of accomplishment like nothing else ever could. But at the same time an emptiness. Begging to be filled with a new challenge. Finishing his work, Liam stood up as a smile, matching his eyes, covered his face. It was finally time to move from basic tests to a full suit one.

“It’s go time,” Liam said.

“What I’ve been waiting to hear,” H-Bar said. Pumping his fist in presumptive victory.

Laughing, Liam moved over to his computer. Bringing up a live diagnostics report of all the new lights. He’d keep the readings open for reference, though he wouldn’t be focusing on them. The light show would get center stage.

Without preamble H-Bar began. As one, all the lights on the suit lit up. Halloing H-Bar in a brightness like the sun.

As the glow spread it changed directions, behaving like no light should. Instead of creating an aura it pulled back in on itself. Forming a sphere in H-Bars outstretched hand, before he split the light into two then three spheres. Each rotating around his palm.

Liam glanced over at his monitor and breathed out a sigh of relief. The lights were performing optimally. No unexpected deviations in their performance. With a nod Liam turned back to the light show.

By now H-Bar was molding the light. Bringing the balls together then smoothing them out. Twisting the light in all manner of directions. As he worked more and more light was pulled from the bulbs on the suit. Soon it reached volumes Liam had never seen before. Forming a miniature spotlight in the middle of the workshop.

Laughing, H-Bar turned to Liam, “This is great! I can’t believe how much power I’m getting.”

“I’m glad you like the upgrade. I can’t wait for your debut against a Cowl.”

“I’m getting chills thinking about it,” H-Bar said. As he faked a shudder.

While the man was joking about it now, on the streets he would be a terror. The sudden increase in power would take many Cowls off guard. Just the advantage H-Bar could use to take them down.

“But there’s more,” Liam said as he walked over to H-Bar. “I won’t hit you. Just watch the lights on the suit.”

“Completely normal thing to tell someone,” H-Bar said as his attention honed in on the lights covering his body. The mass of pure white still floating behind him.

With a quick thrust Liam’s fist darted forward. Flying straight at H-Bar’s chest. Until, with mere inches to go, Liam stopped.

The fist was forgotten as both Heroes watched the lights on H-Bars chest. Those which were in the punch’s path went dark as danger neared. Or more precisely a metal eyelid shuttered closed over them. Protecting the lights from the impending attack.

A moment after the fist stopped moving the metal eyelids snapped back open. Bringing their hidden illumination to H-Bar’s already blazing suit.

“Now that’s amazing!” H-Bar said as he watched.

“The cover can prevent a hit from a baseball bat from damaging the lights underneath,” Liam said. His chest swelling as he spoke.

“Not enough to stop every super, but anyone who is stronger than that will break my bones so the lights won’t be the biggest concern.”

“Best to avoid being hit by those supers,” Liam said. As H-Bar played with the lights on his suit, prying closed and then opening one of the metal eyelids.

“True on that front,” H-Bar said distractedly.

Moving back to the screen, Liam checked the system report again. Flashing through the readouts everything was green.

Pulling himself back from inspecting the light, H-Bar asked, “I thought the armor on the lights would make the suit heavier? But it feels the same to me.”

“That added some weight, but I compensated for it by decreasing the weight of the suit itself,” Liam explained.

“How did you accomplish that?” H-Bar asked.

“I made the suit out of a new polymer. It’s just as strong as the last, but weighs less. For you the result is a suit that weighs the same when the new lights are attached.”

As Liam spoke, H-Bar scanned the rest of his suit. Trying to discern the different materials of the suit with a cursory glance.

“This keeps getting better,” H-Bar said.

“The Cowls should be terrified of you,” Liam said.

“Oh they will be when they see me coming,” H-Bar said as he struck a gaudy Hero pose. One hand on hip while the other was pointing into the distance. To cap off the moment the ball of light hovering behind H-Bar spread into a cape. The Hero held the pose for a second before he allowed the lights to collapse. Splashing the lab in a strobe of white as the energy dissolved.

Despite his best efforts Liam was on the floor laughing a moment later. That pose would be enough to frighten most people away. They’d think he’d gone crazy.

“You’re the most ridiculous person I’ve ever met,” Liam said a minute later. Still gasping for breath between words.

“It’s a talent,” H-Bar said with a shrug as he helped Liam to his feet. “Sadly I’ve got a couple reports to complete. If you don’t mind?”

“Of course not. See you out there with the new suit,” Liam said.

Walking out of the workshop there was a clear bounce to H-Bar’s step. His right hand continued playing with one of the new lights. Still enthralled by the tech.

Helping H-Bar had been a great idea. The project was a blast. And it allowed Liam to expand his knowledge into new areas. While also providing the team with a stronger Hero. Both great things, but not the most important. That went to the bond it helped forge between Liam and H-Bar. After the team’s test Liam knew he needed to strengthen connections with his teammates. Now he’d secured one, with the rest of the team to go.