“What do you think?” Nudge asked, as if everything that’d just happened was some grand play.

“That we should’ve been down there, helping.”

“And who would you have sided with? The woman in purple or the people with guns?”

Liam knew it was a trick question. The people inside the building were drug dealers, according to the information Nudge had shared with him before they’d arrived. At first Liam assumed the man in the demon mask had broken in, trying to stop the criminals. However, the reactions of the others who’d come out of the building lead him to question his original assumptions.

“I would have tried to stop the fighting,” Liam said. Aiming for a middle ground.

“Even with all those people with guns?” Nudge asked as he turned from the carnage down below to face Liam.

“I don’t enjoy being shot at, but I can take a few rounds,” Liam said. His foot shaking at the memory of the high school parking lot. It could have all ended that day with the flash of a barrel, only for help to arrive from an unexpected source. “I’m sure I can take a few more than you.”

“I have no doubt about that. But by staying up here, we didn’t have to worry about being shot at. In my book, that’s a better outcome.”

“You know you don’t have to take the whole mentor thing seriously. I’ve been through enough that I don’t need one.”

“And that attitude is why I’m going to continue with it.”

It was worth a shot, Liam thought. Maybe after a few more weeks working together, he could convince the man that he didn’t need a babysitter.

Continuing on as if the conversation hadn’t been derailed, Nudge said, “Now let’s go down there and introduce ourselves.”

“Is that your weird way of saying we’re going to fight her?”

“With her, you never know,” Nudge said as he moved off the roof. Vines formed around him and gripped the side of the building. The vines carrying the man from their perch. The entire process looked almost casual for the man.

“Wait, shouldn’t we come up with a plan before we face her?”

The vine in front of Liam twitched forward, wrapping itself around him, before pulling, Liam over the edge as well. The vines, which he could tear through with ease, carried him after the other Hero. Proving again the theory that many weak things coming together create something all together stronger.

Liam still warmed up the plasma source in his jet boots again. He didn’t think the other man would drop him, but he wanted to be prepared for the worst. Who knew if his new mentor liked crazy ‘tests’. A surprise fall might be just what the man was looking for.

A few seconds later and they touched down. Liam not having to engage his jet boots. The vines had done their job and carried him with ease. When the two Heroes were both on the ground, the vines pulled back into a twirling mess around Nudge.

At their arrival there was a stir from inside the building. They hadn’t come unnoticed.

“So they decided to show themselves. I was wondering how I’d draw you out of the woodwork,” a voice called from inside the building. It was rough with the hint of a female tinge to it.

Footsteps followed the voice, each growing louder. Liam prepared himself. Reaching down, he pulled his new staff off its leg holster. In its carrying mode, the thing was only a foot long. Touching a button on the side, it extended to its full size of over four feet with a snap. One end flaring to life as electricity coursed over it.

Besides his suit, this was one of Liam’s favorite inventions. It had a way of putting him at ease. Just having it in his hands was a relief. It was both an extension of his person and enabled his preferred fighting style. Not having it for months while he was on the run had been a blow.

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Once Liam had proper equipment to work with again, his staff had been one of the first things he’d rebuilt. Going as far as making a second, which was still hanging on his left leg, in case the first was damaged.

Nudge looked over the staff, but made no comment. Only shrugging his shoulders at Liam’s display.

“Are you coming out or are we going to wait all day?” Nudge called back.

Laughter echoed from inside the building as Liam heard the footsteps approaching one by one. The crunching of drywall grew louder as the person in purple came into view.

Exiting the hole, the person stood there, eyeing the two in front of her. From what he’d seen of the earlier fight, their opponent was a melee fighter. Something his repaired boots would give him an enormous advantage against.

Seeing him tightening like a spring, their opponent’s gaze honed in on Liam. Even through the mask, Liam could see her vision traveling over him. Looking at every weld and screw of the suit. Being eyed like a prized bull ignited a spark in Liam’s stomach. He was tired of people judging him from what the media said. He’d show this purple princess what he was capable of.

“So you’re the one everybody’s talking about?” the woman asked.

What was Liam hoping for, that no one would recognize Source, even with the changes to his armour? That wasn’t possible. Regardless of what anyone thought, he was the person who’d stood for right as the world tried to beat him down.

Standing up taller, Liam clenched his grip along the staff.

“The one and only,” Nudge said, taking over before Liam could respond. “Now, how about you come back with us? We have a lot to discuss.”

Nudge wanted her to come with them? So they were arresting her, Liam decided.

“I work alone. You know that.”

Liam stood corrected. She was taking the conversation as they wanted to team up with her. Did that mean she was in the right breaking into the warehouse? Why did Liam always find himself in conversations where he didn’t understand everything going on? Was it because he was younger than everyone else, so they decided he was still an apprentice and couldn’t handle what was happening? Hadn’t he done enough to prove himself? Or was there something else making him forever out of the loop that he just couldn’t see?

“Tank, we’ve been over this. You owe me and I’m here to cash in. I could’ve come with a full contract written up, but I know how you hate those things.”

“Heroes shouldn’t save people for money. It’s against what they stand for,” the woman said, before continuing. “Do you trust me working with him?”

“Will it be an issue?” Nudge asked, turning to look at Liam from the side of his eye.

“I’m not sure,” Liam said. Not knowing if the question had been directed at him or the person in purple. “I have no idea who this is. Why would I work with someone I don’t know or trust?”

“I can vouch for her,” Nudge commented.

If it was anyone else vouching for a person, Liam would throw it out in a second. Yet this was Nudge. He’d proven himself capable of reading people before. Could Liam count on that ability to continue?

“Sorry, but your word can only go so far,” Liam said after a moment of thought. He didn’t want to insult the man, but a former president used to say trust, but verify.

“You can’t live your life never trusting, you have to grow out of…” Nudge trailed off as his head turned towards one of the men on the ground. A vine that had been hovering around him shot out. Striking one of the downed people in the head. There was a muffled grunt before the body went limp again.

“I’m sorry, but this is a private conversation. I’d appreciate it if you could respect that,” Nudge said to the unconscious man. Then turned back to the other two. “I apologize for the interruption. Now where were we?”

“Source and I were just agreeing that it’d be stupid to force me onto a team.”

Liam nodded along with what the woman was saying. Even if he didn’t trust her, he could agree with the statement.

“Come on, you two. I need your help. I’m inviting you to join the most important mission either of you will ever work on.”

“Big words. But without proof that’s all they are,” the woman said.

“Tank, come back to the base and I’ll give you all the proof you could ever need.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Liam started. Adding another person to the group. Someone who could betray him didn’t seem like a smart plan to Liam.

“She can walk after that, if I don’t convince her. But at least hear me out. Or do I have to tell my young friend about LA?” Nudge threatened.

“What are you talking about?” Liam asked. How far back did these two go?

Liam looked between the two as the pause lengthened. The two were stuck in a staring match. Neither backing down.

“Tank?”

The woman’s eyes hardened.

“Fine, but I’m only listening to your spiel. After that I’m gone.”

“Great. I’ll call for a ride.”

Liam wanted to protest more. This wasn’t what he’d thought he was getting into when he agreed to work with Nudge. Shouldn’t they be working by themselves on whatever project this was? Why did they need a team? Yet Nudge’s comment to Liam when they first met echoed in his head. They were chasing a legend.