“The name? You need my legal name…” Lulu tapped her foot as she looked around at the security. The entrance for heroes had a lot more security to it than she planned. “Louise Dillon.”
“Age?” The friendly blonde smiled at her.
“Sixteen.” She gritted her teeth.
“Welcome Lulu of Mighty Force’s Junior program.” The woman held out a party bag.
Lulu snatched it and glared. “I’m not a member of the Mighty Force.”
“Oh, sorry, for the confusion ma’am. We invite so few non-members.”
“Mhmm.” Lulu continued on her way.
Into the main hall was a lavish ball. Higher ups from across Seattle were here. And others from across the country. Rich people she had only seen on T.V. She smiled as she let herself enjoy the sparkling wine, the ice sculptures, “And the women…” Lulu smiled as she walked by two models in dresses.
“Eyes on the prize, as always, Lulu.” It was Arbiter.
“Brie…” Lulu sighed.
Arbiter and Lulu were similar in build. About the same height, and their technology companies both worked towards making them the best heroes on the market. While Arbiter made San Francisco safe. Lulu did the same for Seattle. The only difference was Lulu built her wealth, Arbiter was from old money. That difference alone made them persona non grata.
“Come now.” Arbiter smiled. “I’m here for you Lulu. We’re more team than not. What’s say we finally team up?”
“This isn’t a movie.” Lulu pushed off Arbiter.
“We used to be such good friends…” Arbiter sighed. “What happened between us?”
“One chose fame and glory…” Lulu glared. “And you never revealed your wealth.”
“So, what? Wearing my wealth on my shoulder like you is preferable.”
“Distinguished guests!” The PA system erupted. Silence fell over the crowd and Lulu and Arbiter glared at each other. “The Mighty Force!”
They both clapped as their eye contact didn’t break.
“Whoa, ladies.” A voice said from behind them. It was a burly woman, massive in size and likely strength. She had to be at least 6’4”. “I sense a lot of tension in the air.”
“What’s your superpower? Perception?” Lulu retorted, noting the yellow cape and skintight grey-on-black superhero suit.
She laughed and held out a hand. “Names Felicity.”
“Beautiful name.” Arbiter smiled. “Name’s –”
“Brie Artiste, former thief extraordinaire.” Her smile faded as she noticed the glares from both. “Sorry, they gave me the dossier of everyone who was attending. I was so nervous I studied all of them all week.”
“Cute.” Lulu smiled after a beat. “I…I can appreciate that. Who are you?”
“Introducing!” The sound of PA boomed over their conversation again. “Felicity. Alien from a foreign world!”
“Spoilers, as they say.” Felicity grinned. She stepped and floated into the air. Lulu and Arbiter watched in awe as she easily glid across the air and onto the podium. No big wings, just her. The first of her kind. She stepped up to the podium. “Hello Earthlings!”
A loud cheer from the crowd.
“My name is Felicity. Where I come from…our planet died decades ago. The survivors of Val travel to the cosmos to find planets in need and help them. I dare say this place is not only beautiful but in dire need of more help. Which is why…I am being introduced as the sixth member of Mighty Force.”
Shots from media cameras erupted as the media started pelting her with questions.
Lulu scoffed and walked away. She went into a hall, following the walls of security guards and small fences that lined the off-limits side of the large Heroes Museum they were in. She found a balcony a few flights of stairs later. She leaned up against the railing and looked out towards the setting sun. She looked around the large city known as New York City. A place so riddled with crime. She was considerate over the fact crime overall had been lowered. But for every corner store robbery stopped, it seemed to spawn super villains at the same rate. Changing one minor problem for them and replacing them with another.
She stepped onto the ledge and looked down. Her purple boots and cape. The wolf grey with. It looked like a simple skintight outfit, but it was actually a centimeter thick power suit. It allowed her to jump far distance, move faster, hit harder. Essentially made her a thousand times stronger than the average human, at least physically. She had made her first suit in 2008. Her exploits in Seattle were largely overshadowed by the heroes that laden the California coast alone. Add to the Mighty Force becoming the face of heroism.
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She grimaced as she brought her feed to the police onto her mask’s AR. Mere blocks away was the report of a possible murder. She jumped off the ledge and landed softly on the ground. She leapt forward, where most suits like hers left a large dent in the ground, hers lift off with ease. Less than a breeze being left behind. She hopped across several rooves until she got to her location. She looked down and saw police were parked below.
She scanned the building and found a standoff. Children being held hostage. The wife was already dead but the husband refused to give the kids up. She climbed down the fire escape fast. She found the floor and hopped into a hallway. She sprinted down the hall. Thankfully, the apartment the stand off was on a t-intersection.
She slammed into the door and planted herself. She looked around quick. The father had been too stunned to move. She smirked as she stepped forward. But he exploded into a dust of plaster and plastics. But that’s not quite what happened. She rewound what was on her AR recording. Slow motion video showed what had happened.
From below the assailant was Arbiter. Unlike Lulu, her suit was nano tech. It brought a huge shell over her, serving as armor. She looked more like a Valkyrie than that man of iron she was always compared to. The perfect blonde, flowing hair. Paired with her blue and white armor, she was quite an imposing presence. This suit allowed her to burst through the floor.
Arbiter then grabbed the husband and hoisted him directly up onto the next floor. Lulu jumped up into the hole when she heard a gunshot. Then several more.
She found Arbiter wrestling the gun out of the father’s hands. She grabbed him and tossed him towards Lulu. Who closed lined him, knocking the wind out of him. He fell to the ground with a thud. With a quick motion Lulu turned and arrested him. Arbiter hoisted the man over her shoulder and smiled at Lulu. “Thanks for the assist.”
Lulu shook her head, trying to be angry. But she did miss working with Arbiter. It had been too long since they had taken down a perp together. Lulu grinned at Arbiter. “Pleasure’s all mine Arbiter.”
They returned the man to the police. They both grimaced as police came in to reassure the girl while they waited for the psychiatrist to be escorted in. The three childrened, essentially orphaned. Starting today, they were apart of the system. Lulu made a note to learn who this family was. She stared down at the dead eyes of the wife. She scanned the face and brought up her socials and police record. Former druggy, was turning her life around.
“Hmm…” Lulu grimaced. “The Dwyer family.”
“Already setting up a fund.” Arbiter nodded.
“Who are you guys?” A gruff looking commissioner asked them.
“Lulu and Arbiter.” Arbiter answered, gesturing to them as she said it. “We were actually at the Mighty Force celebration a few blocks away.”
He let out a big sigh. “This will not play well with the media.”
“How about we help?” Arbiter offered. “The party was kind of boring. You can send us somewhere else while your town’s normal super heroes celebrate themselves.”
The commissioner chuckled but nodded. “I appreciate the offer. But we swore we could protect this city while they took ONE day to themselves.” Lulu smirked as Arbiter shrunk a bit from that comment. “Go ahead and return to the party. I heard it gets crazy after the media leaves. I might see you there if the city calms down for a couple minutes.”
“See you around Commissioner.” Lulu nodded.
They both walked back into the hallway. They found the way Lulu came in and made their way to the roof. The stood their looking at each other. They both grinned at each other. They went in for a hug.
“What happened between us?” Arbiter whispered into her ear.
They separated and looked back towards the museum. Lulu spoke, “Egos…probably something like that right?”
“Something like that.” Arbiter shook her head. Her sharp mask still on, it was somehow easier to talk to her when she didn’t have to look at her full face.
“It’s probably a lot of things.” Lulu admitted. “Maybe…we can start mending fences?”
“Did the tap-on-the-back party for the Mighty Force bring us together?” Arbiter smirked. “Who would’ve thought. Not me, I was ready to throw down with you after all these years.”
Lulu chuckled. “Let’s get back to the –”
BOOM
The both were blown back. They landed on their feet but they heard the entire building creek. The looked up at a small mushroom cloud. Too small to be a nuke, to large to be just localized bomb.
“B. What happened?” Arbiter asked her onboard AI.
“What does our satellite say?” Lulu asked her support team in Seattle.
“Doesn’t look good.” Sandra, the lead, reported. “Looks like several tons worth of dynamite was set off. No nuclear activity, but the explosive pattern isn’t familiar. This is a specialized bomb.”
“Let’s go.” Lulu and Arbiter said at the same time.
Arbiter smirked and held out her hand. Lulu sighed. “I’ll catch up. You’re faster go.”
Arbiter looked serious and took off. She flew off using her collective rockets. Lulu jumped after her. Sprinting on rooves and jumping from one to another. She actually was keeping a descent pace with Arbiter. Arbiter landed on a roof overlooking the Hero Museum. Lulu caught up and gasped at the site.
It was completely leveled. It was the only obvious thing that could’ve happened. But…seeing it made Lulu collapse to her knees. There were thousands of people in that building that night. There was only a crater left. Pieces of buildings clearly visible but in no discernable pattern. Smoke and debris dust rose into the sky. They were able to view somewhat into the All gone. “What about survivors?”
“It’s a crater…” Arbiter sighed. “I…very few. We should get to work.”
“There’s no one left.” They both turned and saw a thin Latin American man. He had tattoos across his face, neck, and arms. “I made sure of it.”
“Who the hell are you?” Lulu glared.
“They call me Dirge…”
“And you did this?” Arbiter stepped forward.
“Oh yes.” Dirge smiled. He spoke perfect English. Too perfect, as though it was learned, or intentionally vague. No accent to be derived from his words. “There is a reckoning. Coming for the elite. The rich that stand upon the masses of the meek and poor.”
“What in the world, are you some sort of eco terrorist?” Lulu asked.
“Just the dirge song of the rich.”
“Your target is rich people? That’s it?” Arbiter asked. “There were civilians in there. Heroes.”
“Sacrifices must be made to remake the world. Including the corrupt Mighty Force.”
“They were the good guys.” Arbiter waved her hands.
“Most, not all.” Dirge smiled. “How little you know. You’re not even from here. This isn’t your city girl.”
“What’s your plan now idiot?” Lulu smirked. “You’re outnumbered.”
Dirge merely smirked before his image flashed and disappeared.
“A hologram!?” Lulu hit her forehead. “Damnit, we should’ve seen that.”
A small drone dropped to the floor. As soon as Arbiter bent down to touch it, it exploded. The force sent both of them back. Lulu woke up to the rush of air. She was tumbling toward the ground. She was blown off the roof! She twisted in the air and landed on the ground. For the first time in her newest suit’s life she left a dent in the ground as she landed. She looked up, waiting.
“Dang it, Arbiter. You better not be dead.”