To Erich’s relief, the commercial run finally comes to an end and the images of self-baking pastries collapse into a three-dimensional waveform of his favourite podcast—

“Aaannnnd welcome back to the only podcast hunting for the truth of existence, Xoxia and the many, many unseen worlds beyond its walls. I’m your host Eroteme—”

“And I’m his co-host, Query!”

“And this, is the Question.” Query and Eroteme say in unison, laughing together afterwards.

Erich picks the sleek band of tech the M.C.U left for him, setting it atop a can of milk to make space for his chopping board. He slices into onions, cuts tomatoes in two as he listens to the podcast. Its introduction warbles the 3D waveform into a stylistic question mark with a haunting persona.

“We’re two weeks in since the streets from Downtown Kyis all the way to Midtown Dersen are overrun with criminals killing each other with no end in sight!”

“Better them than us amiright, Erote?”

“Indeed, Query, indeed. Unfortunately, many innocents are caught in the crossfire of Vertigo’s capitalization on Lynx’s imprisonment at Hielo Penitentiary. Even without their cannibalistic leader the Lynx have put up a daring fight and have swallowed up much of the territory they lost to Vertigo’s initial charge, it seems bloodstain snow will be commonplace on these streets for some time!”

Erich shakes his head, letting out a sigh as gunshots ring out through the neighbourhood as though to punctuate Erote’s point. He throws his vegetables in to blend and increases the volume on the podcast.

Query sighs, “Stay safe out there curious folk, we know many of you live around those areas and minions of these meta-human villains are hard of hearing, wicked individuals. That said, the question for the day, the question for the week even since it hasn’t changed at all since Lynx was captured is…. Who is responsible?”

“Two weeks! This has been the question for two weeks people! It seems our answers haven’t been enough to satisfy your curiosity and very well so!” Eroteme yells into his mic, a bit frustrated though Erich can still hear his grin through it all.

“It can’t be helped Erote, no one’s spotted the so called ‘Trump Card’ Vertigo claims he pulled on Lynx. What witnesses to the incident in Midtown have given their exclusive statements to both XCPD and the infamous M.C.U who also happens to be claiming responsibility for the Gamma rank villain’s capture. And yet neither have provided substantial proof!”

Erich tosses the coarse blend mix into a pan, watching it sizzle in the oil burning a beautiful scent into his nostrils— good food at last. He cracks an egg, mixes with his special set of seasonings and even more pepper before setting it aside to wash up his board and soak the blender.

“Shamefully we’re no different, we promised to bring the truth to light last week and here we are empty handed.” Erote groans and sniffs, “To that end we’ll have the chat live and free to all ye curious folk, send in your questions, theories and suspicions! Who knows, one of us may have the truth right on the mark!”

The waveform shimmers from a black and white to a light green with a chat box of the same colour underneath it. It doesn’t take a second before comments, greetings and Question brand emotes fill the chat. Erich takes a spatula to his sizzling paste, eying it for a change in colour and smell.

“And there we go! Eenie menie minie MO! I’ve got your Question in a row!” Eroteme chants with glee as three questions pop out from the hoard of comments, “Let’s see here, KlausluvsSnw asks if it’s possible the M.C.U is telling the truth for once. Hmm, it could be Klaus, anything is possible in Xoxia the worse more than the best but still, anything is possible.”

Query chuckles and reads out the next question, “Ynnifer231 speculates the existence of yet another Gamma rank metahuman in the villainous scene, after all this person managed to subdue Lynx without a single loss to the M.C.U. Haha, I must say Ynnifer231, by your logic it’s more likely they serve the M.C.U don’t you think? Vertigo’s crew was pretty much decimated by the encounter save for the Frost Bitch of course.”

“Speaking of the Frost Bitch, like our mysterious Gamma rank metahuman no one has spotted her fighting on the front against the Lynx. Could it be she’s still recuperating from her deathly encounter with their boss or was she captured by the M.C.U?” Eroteme interjects.

“That’s a very good question there, Erote, it could be the same thing happened to the mysterious meta that held off against Lynx. There’s some sense to your speculation Ynnifer231!”

“Another question by Jona7ss here, asking what the hell the XCPD and M.C.U are doing to put a stop to the violence in the streets! Another wonderful question from our curious folk, unfortunately its one we’ve asked too often! It’s my personal opinion our law enforcement is content watching these metahuman gangs go at it, save them the resources and manpower of tackling them as they should!”

Query hums in agreement and adds, “Yes, the M.C.U seems to be out for the baddest metas of all and only when it suits them. Just look at the Lynx incident, they said they’d been monitoring that safe house for months so why did they wait until Vertigo came along to launch their operation? That said, we’ve got to give credit where its due and the aspiring heroes from Yelnats Academy have taken to the streets to smack and spank the naughtiest of criminals giving the Downtown burrows a bad name.”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

At the mention of Yelnat’s Erich tosses the whisked eggs into the sizzling tomato mix and reflects on the wiki of information Officer Bethany and Rick left about it in the band. A full on four-year course for him to catch up on with the last year as emphasis for him to read while he ponders their offer. They’d even left in some class videos as well. The heroes Query speaks of may end up being his classmate should he agree. Erich listens closely to the podcast as he scrambles the pan fried egg sauce till it’s a rich pink colour and fluffy.

“Yes, the would-be heroes of Yelnats Academy or should I say, Officers of the M.C.U in training! You’re right, Query, they should be applauded for their efforts but we shouldn’t be deceived! They still belong to the same corrupt organization looking out for the elites of this city and kicking down on everyone else. You’ve seen the records of their encounter against Vertigo’s villain, TV, they ran off! Left the civilians in dire need of their help to be victims of continued gang violence, extortion and unmentionable heinous acts. Half measures like this will not be enough to satiate the growing unrest in Xoxia, the M.C.U’s oppression of true metahuman heroes is what’s causing such troubles, I mean, how can anyone expect affluent students from Uptown to understand what it means to be a hero to the suffering peoples of Xoxia? Metal boy or whatever he’s called had to be saved! Whisked away from the front lines once he and his posse of ignorant came across TV. If the M.C.U can spare supervising forces for these children, then why not erase the threat completely? They’re using the tragedies occurring each day to train these infantile—!”

Erich slides the volume to mute, clicks the gas off and strains to listen out his stuffy kitchenette window for an ominous sound he heard a second ago. Now he hears nothing but the howl of Xoxia’s eternal winter so he leaves the window open to drive out the heat of his cooking. Pouring out the egg sauce into a plate, he retrieves the fried yam sticks he’d made earlier from the microwave and tosses them onto the plate.

He snatches the band on the way out of the kitchenette, munching bite after sweet bite of his cooking with reserved glee. Sitting on his bed he swipes away from the podcast knowing Eroteme’s going on another long rant about the true heroes and villains of Xoxia, he’s heard it all before and indulged in it too. But for now it can wait, the talk of Yelnat’s metal boy brings him back to the school page Bethany and Rick bookmarked on the device. They’d done a whole lot more than feed the slick band with information about the M.C.U; added their contact lines, each having the same contract waiting for him to sign and a polite message letting him know to ask any questions.

He has a couple to ask, for one; why does the band already connect to his XCredit accounts? Why does it have all his media information, signed in with both Rick and Bethany as his newest friends? Why does the contract come with a lump sum triple that of his entire savings and most of all, why does it already have him signed into several of the group chats with students from Yelnats.

These weren’t questions Erich thought they’d answer or even entertain. He could see Bethany smiling bright and wordlessly at him before changing the subject to his litany of crimes waiting prosecution. Erich’s given thought to their offer, serious thought and even deigned to chat with a couple students in the early courses he might take to cover up for the glaring lack of knowledge. The textbooks wouldn’t be enough and though Erich’s is fully aware that the M.C.U only wants him capable of controlling and utilizing his powers for their benefit, he can’t help having a look at the horde of fun facts and studies he only passively learned about the past four or five years.

Almost feels normal. Another round of gunshots breaks that thought, reminding him where he is and where he’s been. Vertigo’s at war with Lynx, not mere raids or skirmishes between petty members of each gang but a full on war with every skill, weapon and asset set as fair game. Erich considers himself fortunate not to be an official member of the gang, something he made sure of with each and every job he took on from Neil and Vertigo. Moving Vie to addicts was where he peaked and look what mess he brought on himself when he tried moving past that.

The image of Cynthia hanging over Lynx’s wide maw still haunts him every time he thinks of her. Still, no one has seen her anywhere, least of all the front where TV and Vertigo are pushing their advance into Lynx territory, though without her the Lynx aren’t being as overwhelmed as they should be. Won’t be long before they realize that ‘trump card’ was a fluke.

Erich will admit to feeling a bit flattered being called a Gamma rank metahuman capable of going toe to toe with the likes of Vertigo, Lynx, Letharguy and perhaps even Invincibill. But ten seconds of Gamma rank isn’t exactly Gamma rank is it? Certainly not with the meta-suppressant strips still patched on each arm.

Another round of shots, eerily close to his apartment put him on edge. The raw, powerful purr of an engine tosses him off his bed and peeking out his window— he thought he’d heard it earlier and he was right! A black mustang roars down his street, sending sweat beads down his temple as he watches it turn and park its bloodstained bonnet by the parking lot outside.

“Fuck!” Not needing to see anymore Erich rushes his unfinished meal into the microwave, stealing three sticks as he dashes back out to the room to pick it apart.

BlastKnuckles, nope! Knife? Fuck! He searches the pile of clothes for the trouser he wore the last time he had them before remembering they were zip tied at the hospital. He snatches the amusement park picture from his mirror before planking to look underneath his bed for the zip-tied bag. BlastKnuckles, check! Knife, check! Hurriedly equipping himself as voices draw close from the corridor he peels the curtain beside his bed window away; a frosty fire escape waits for him.

He eyes the construct warily. The last time he tested this escape route was when he was fourteen and much lighter weight. Biting his cheek, he steps out before remembering the one thing that could help— the band! He spots it on his bed almost tipping off to the floor as a rude knock comes at the door.

Take it or leave it? Takeorleavetakeorleavetakeorleave! Cursing his scatter brain, he leans back in to grab it when a sly voice at the door says, “I see you.”

TV?

The door’s kicked in before he can think anything else and three men rush in past it. He slashes with his knife but they ignore it and smash his face in with their fists, kicking him in the stomach, back and legs once he’s down. The beating continues longer than Erich believes he deserves, his precious home cooked meal spills out of his guts with blood drawn from his nose, lip and head.

Finally, they stop and Erich sees light again before its blocked out by two figures he never wanted to see in his neighbourhood; Austin and TV. Austin stands by TV with a disappointed look on his face, not a shroud of sympathy from the man who once convinced Vertigo to give a dying orphan a chance. TV smirks down at Erich, his lethal eyes hidden behind seemingly basic sunglasses tinted wine red as his jacket and fingerless gloves.

“Oh, Erich, what have you been doing?” He says, fingers itching to take his shades off, “Vertigo’s been looking for you and the Frost Bitch, you haven’t seen her have you? No? Alright, I believe you.”