“I look ridiculous,” Kaleb said, pulling on his collar.
The suit felt tight around his chest and shoulders. He could feel the smooth cloth bulging over his robotic shoulder. Farrah had opted to try to cover his large cybernetic arm with an over-sized sleeve. The suit was clearly custom made and tailored to fit him, but the obviously bulging arm suddenly made Kaleb feel off-kilter. He pulled at the material of his left arm’s cuff and Farrah slapped his hand.
“Quit it! You look fine. Besides, the alternative is cutting off the sleeve and letting that blocky monstrosity hang loose. You can not do that with where we are going. That shit is fine for your lab coats, but this is a tailored suit.”
“A little too tailored. How long have you had this and how often do you see me using it? Also, please don’t tell me you spent SG funds on this blue monkey suit.”
“It’s not blue! It’s Navy. And of course I did. I’m not spending my own credits on something for you. I checked with D34d-I and he agreed. He even gave me the okay to purchase some evening wear for the others as well. Part of being a hero is wining and dining clients. Or it used to be before the HLO moved in.”
Kaleb pulled on his collar again as Farrah parked her car on the side of the road. They were in the middle of downtown Austin. Flying cars and the regular kind were moving at a steady pace all around them. The sidewalks were packed with workers and civilians going about their day. Smoke and fire rose in the distance. The sign that some super was already going to work in the early morning. Kaleb’s fingers itched toward his waist, but Farrah caught that gesture, too.
“No weapons!”
Kaleb turned awkwardly in his seat and glared at Farrah. “The last time I went into a ‘special meeting’ with an NPC, there was a drive-by. At the very least, I am taking my Cybar.”
He turned to grab from his gear in the backseat, and Farrah stopped him. He sent another glare at her and she sighed loudly.
“Grab the Quad-Gun instead. That one is at least science-y enough to be a gimmick. The Cybar makes you look like every other low-rent Mundane bounty hunter.”
Kaleb ignored the insult and did as she asked. He squeezed the large weapon into its custom holster at his hip and tried to use his suit jacket to cover it. The attempt was unsuccessful and Kaleb had to let his gun hang out for all to see. But he was a Super, so it was probably okay. With that taken care of, Kaleb exited the parked car and looked around.
They were surrounded on all sides by towering buildings. The early morning sun reflected off some of the glass windows and made Kaleb squint his eyes. So he turned his gaze to the road. It was full of traffic and the odd parking car. Across the street, Kaleb spotted their destination. It was a large and rather fancy restaurant built into the lobby of another office building. He spotted several well-dressed aliens and humans puttering inside the place from the front windows. He even spotted a snooty-looking Maître d, past the front doors. Letting out a sigh, Kaleb turned to Farrah but found the rabbit woman wasn’t on her side of the car.
A subtle shaking told him she was still inside, and he bent down to peek through his window. As he did, he heard the driver side door open and Farrah get out. A flash of electricity followed Farrah from the car, and Kaleb grimaced as he scanned for threats. But he stopped when he spotted his companion.
Farrah was adjusting the straps of a form-fitting black dress she was suddenly wearing. She ran her hands down the sides of the garment before bending over and putting on her shoes. Her long rabbit ears bounced as she got used to the heels and she checked herself in the car’s mirror. Farrah caught Kaleb staring and turned to grin at him.
“I told you I was coming with you.”
“And you just happened to have that little number with you for such an occasion?”
“It’s from a police ball during the Beta. A situation like this calls for my best, and it has been ready since you first told me about your meeting with Mr. Madden.”
Kaleb snorted and walked around the car, taking in her entire ensemble. The slim black dress hugged Farrah’s body from her shoulders down to just above her ankles. It was modest, yet elegant, and Kaleb gave it a nod of appreciation. But not wanting to be accused of staring… again, Kaleb coughed and looked back toward the restaurant. A noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort came from Farrah’s direction. But Kaleb ignored it.
“So, I assume we have a reservation under Maxwell’s name?”
A slim hand wrapped around Kaleb’s robotic left arm and Farrah answered him. “Yes. And it is Mr. Madden from here on out, okay? We need to show the proper respect. He’s a city council member.”
Kaleb took a step toward the restaurant, taking Farrah along with him. “Pfft! Everyone deserves respect. Just cause he’s a council member doesn’t mean he gets more.”
“So why did you call him Maxwell?”
“Because he engineered our first encounter. Which means he is willing to trick and lie to get what he wants. Which is fine, that’s the world of business and politics. But it should also dictate how we treat him from now on.”
“What about everyone deserving respect?” Farrah asked as they reached the door.
Kaleb turned to her with a grin as he reached out to open it for her. “Everyone deserves respect until they prove that they don’t. Maxwell is starting this talk on the back foot with me because he wasn’t up front about what he wanted.”
Farrah gave him a nod of thanks and entered the restaurant’s foyer. Kaleb quickly joined her and the pair linked arms again before approaching the host. The snooty-looking alien glanced over both of them before looking down at something behind his desk. Kaleb waited to be addressed as Farrah rested casually against his side. He was beginning to think the whole reason she had bought a suit with a large sleeve was so she wouldn’t have to rest her head on his robot arm.
“Sir. Madam. Your host is waiting for you in a private room. Please, follow me.” The bored alien’s tone dripped condescension and Kaleb had to bite his cheek again.
“Thank you.” Farrah said, practically dragging Kaleb behind the Maître D.
“Behave.” she whispered.
“I am.” Kaleb responded. “Smug asshat still has all his teeth.”
Farrah gave him a warning look, but said nothing as they were led past the main dining area. They drew looks from more than a few people, and Kaleb returned a few stares. Well-to-do aliens and humans were made up in their best and having extravagant breakfasts. Jewels, cash, and fine accouterments were on display for all to see. Kaleb had to roll his eyes. These people were just begging to be robbed. Who went out to breakfast in pearls?
They were led past the dining area to a small hallway off the kitchen. Kaleb’s teeth rattled in his head as he felt them pass a magic barrier. But he had no time to inspect it as Farrah dragged him down the hall. Their Maître D took them to the last doorway in the hall and opened the door. The alien stood by the door as Kaleb and Farrah looked inside. The doorway was a hazy portal of some kind that Kaleb couldn’t see through. He turned to the guide to ask a question, but the alien was standing there with a hand out. Kaleb raised an eyebrow as Farrah pulled at his robot arm in warning.
Seeing Kaleb’s confusion, the Maître D rolled his large bulbous eyes. “A gratuity is… expected, sir.”
“So were manners,” Kaleb responded over Farrah’s not-so-quiet hissing. “Looks like we are both destined to be disappointed.”
Savoring the shocked look on the alien’s face, Kaleb took a step into the hazy portal around the door. A cold sensation went through his body as the magic washed over them. Farrah was pinching his side as Kaleb took in their new surroundings. They were in a large, well-lit room with a bay of windows opposite them. They had clearly been teleported somewhere else as the windows were looking down on a city. Kaleb moved to get a better look when a furry chest interposed itself into his view.
Looking up, Kaleb saw the angry face of an alien he had never seen before. The blotchy face scowled down at Kaleb as he took a step back, taking Farrah with him. The alien’s chest was bare and a light layer of fur covered a well-muscled torso. Custom pants hugged well-muscled legs and thighs, which led down to human-like hands for feet. Kaleb almost assumed the alien was a hybrid, but the physiognomy hung together too well. Mutant hybrids, like the Phreaks, were more a patchwork of put-together animals. The alien was clearly born this way.
“Weapons?” The big, bare-chested alien rumbled.
Kaleb scowled as he realized he was dealing with a bodyguard. “No thanks, I brought my own.”
He went to side-step the giant and felt a large hand slam down onto his shoulder. Farrah released her grip on his arm and took a large step back. Clearly gaining space to do something. Kaleb’s hand dropped to his hip as the big alien spun him around. He had his quad-gun free of his holster and pointing at the big bastard’s chin when a calm voice came from the only table in the room.
“Lawrence. It’s fine.”
The massive pressure on Kaleb’s arm let go, and a burst of warm air hit him in the face as the bodyguard snorted. Kaleb grimaced and waved his Quad-gun through the stench of the guard’s breath. Farrah passed him on his right side as he continued to stare down Lawrence.
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“Apologies, Mr. Madden. My associate has just been released from HLO custody and is a bit on the prickly side.”
Kaleb spun away from his stare down with the alien guard, ready to defend himself. But the large breakfast spread on the table took the words away. The smell of eggs and bacon hit his nose just as he spotted trays of pancakes and scones. Pitchers of orange juice and water were spread around the table as Kaleb hurried forward. As he did, the heavenly scent of coffee hit him in the face, and Kaleb scanned the entire table for the source. Finding it, he grabbed a nearby mug and rushed over to fill it. The other occupants of the room were long forgotten.
“That’s quite alright, Ms. Kyneklos. I was well aware of the Professor’s proclivities when I first made contact.” A voice said from behind Kaleb’s coffee mug.
He was currently downing a full mug of steaming coffee, barely aware of who was speaking. He turned his head to get a better look and spotted the same alien from a few days ago. Maxwell’s grey skin and suit were in much better shape than the last time Kaleb had seen him though. He looked less harried and less angry. A little bemused smile pulled at the alderman’s lips as Kaleb studied him while downing his coffee.
His mug ran dry, and Kaleb pulled the thing from his mouth as he looked for the carafe again. He spotted it near Farrah and finally saw her expression. She was livid, or at least her eyes were. Her lips were pulled back in the merest illusion of a smile. But Kaleb wasn’t fooled. With a grimace, he sat his mug down and took a seat opposite Maxwell. Farrah started his way, but stopped as Kaleb spoke.
“Yeah, about that little ‘meeting,’” He made air quotes around the word as Farrah sped up her walk to his side of the table. “Care to explain that?”
Farrah practically jogged the last few steps to his side and threw herself into a seat beside him. A pulse of electricity hit Kaleb in the side and he momentarily went rigid. An involuntary yelp escaped his lips, which Farrah covered with a triumph laugh as she took her seat. As if she had just won a race. Kaleb glared at Farrah as she glared back at him. A low chuckle came from the opposite side of the table and they both turned to look at the alderman.
“There’s no need for forced decorum, Ms. Kyneklos. Like I said, I am well-aware of whom I’m dealing with. There’s a reason I didn’t arrange a meeting with Jar-lock or, lord help me, Two Gun. Those two know the art of saying nothing while trying to get everything. Jar-lock, like a trained investigator and Two Gun like a Savy businessman.”
Kaleb rubbed his stomach where Farrah had zapped him. “See? People come to me when they don’t want smoke blown up their ass.”
“Or when they want to put one over on you.” Farrah growled back at him, trying to be quiet.
“Haha! Yes, exactly. The Professor attacks a problem honestly and from the front. A much needed escape from my normal dealings.”
Farrah snorted, and Kaleb tried to get out of his chair. She pulled him down and Kaleb grunted. He raised his mug to show that he was merely getting a cup of coffee, and she finally released him. Kaleb got back up and walked around the table toward Mr. Madden. His ape-like bodyguard was standing behind the alien, scowling. But Kaleb ignored it as he got his prize.
“So then, you went through all that trouble. What do you want?”
“Honestly professor…” Farrah sighed loudly.
Mr. Madden ignored her as he smiled at Kaleb. “What I want is to ascertain whether your little group aligns with my own goals for Austin.”
“Which are?” Kaleb asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee on his way back to his seat.
Madden stayed silent until Kaleb was seated again. But when he was, the alien caught eyes with Kaleb and asked seriously.
“What do you think of the HLO?”
“I think it’s a good idea with a little too much power.”
“Explain.”
“Powered people wanting to get out there and help is a great thing. But they need oversight. Someone to dot the T’s and cross the I’s. Someone to make things easier with the average citizens.”
“All things the HLO does.”
“Yes, but they’ve also extended their reach to other areas. They’ve pushed out the other contenders in their field and hold a monopoly in Austin. All the other guilds are gone, aren’t they?”
Maxwell nodded. “Yes. But to be fair, they didn’t have the resources the HLO does. The HLO has negotiated contracts with K-Tech and the DAD. They’ve placed Supers by rank into the areas that need them. My reports even indicate that they have people placed in Under-Town. A feat even the police have been slow to replicate. All of that, and still you chose to break away. Why?”
Kaleb smirked. “I didn’t really choose to do anything. I was forced out by the management. Apparently Mundanes can’t be heroes.”
“Ahh, that old argument again. Sorry to say, I almost agree with the HLO on that one. Although there have been a slew of Mundane heroes that have gone on to save the world. The risk factor for a hero is just so much greater than a police officer. You’ll note that none of the police with you on the Demon Incursion actually went into a portal, right?”
Kaleb nodded and sipped his coffee.
“You, however, flung yourself into it and even managed to get stuck there for a time. A feat the HLO would call an unconscionable risk. Letting a Mundane like you fight a Demon?! The very idea! Yet, here you are.”
“What are you up to?” Kaleb couldn’t help but ask as the Alderman smiled at him.
Farrah smacked him on his shoulder even as she angrily bit into a croissant. Kaleb ignored the blow as Maxwell studied him. For some reason, Kaleb couldn’t get a read on the guy. The things he was saying were clearly pro-HLO, but the guy had a glint in his eyes. The kind of glint a person got before they threw themselves into something much bigger than themselves. Their friendly alderman was about to take on something massive, and for some reason, he was here talking to Kaleb about it.
“I want to fund an Austin-based business mirroring the HLO efforts.”
“You want to build a competing Hero Office?” Farrah asked.
“Yes. Your group isn’t the only one to break away from them. In the past few weeks, we’ve had multiple groups breaking away and applying for contracts. This latest batch of heroes seemed more willful and head-strong then any before it.”
“And your response is to bring them back into the fold?” Kaleb raised an eyebrow. “I can’t speak for the others, but I’ve got a great big chip on my shoulder where the HLO is concerned. Joining another agency doesn’t seem like the right move.”
“Not even one you help build?” Maxwell asked. “Besides, I’m not talking about an international business here. Unlike the HLO, this new agency will be one-hundred percent Austin oriented. Austin-based heroes, fighting for Austin’s interest. We can sign deals with local tech companies, get local disposal groups on-board. Make this new agency one built for Texans by Texans.”
Kaleb mulled it over in his head as he grabbed a pancake. He wrapped the pancake around a banana and smeared the thing with butter and syrup before taking a bite. Chewing slowly, Kaleb shook his head in confusion.
“Why?” He said around a mouthful of food.
There was a loud thump as Farrah kicked him hard. Kaleb involuntarily swallowed his food and choked. He shot his partner a dirty look as he reached for a glass of water. Thankfully, Maxwell waited for him to collect himself before he answered.
“The HLO is under investigation. It’s not well known yet, but their dealings have brought in outside scrutiny. Now everyone at city hall is scrambling trying to hide their dirty little secrets. I don’t know what the investigation will find or even if it’s legitimate, but I know something is up. So while the HLO is dealing with that, I figured why not create some opportunities for hard-working Texans? The HLO has stepped on a lot of toes.”
“And you figure it would be a good look for you too,” Farrah said.
Maxwell shrugged. “It’s never too early to start thinking about a run for mayor. And helping create a brand new hero agency around the HLO would be a huge win for anyone.”
“What about the HLO, though? They aren’t just going to let another business hone in on their racket. They’ve got a tight grip on Austin. Just look at the Hunter’s Association or the Bounty Post. Both of these guilds or whatever are gone.”
“Not gone, just pushed to the side. The HLO’s deals have their competitors boxed in and their allies in City Hall are intent on keeping it that way. But with your little Demon job, we can wield some clout. You have public sentiment on your side in our district. You just need to keep it up. I’ll handle the nitty-gritty and when I find another SG to bring in, you come with me to the meeting. You and Farrah.”
Kaleb stared at Maxwell for a long time. It felt like the alien was being upfront about everything. But Kaleb only had his gut to go on there. He turned to Farrah to find her chewing her lip in thought. Catching his eyes, she asked her own questions.
“What about the business-side of things? Setting up another association is going to take a lot of paperwork.”
“And you’ll need a minimum number of contracts in your district. As well as a good deal of heroes on your payroll. But don’t worry about the paperwork. I’ll handle all of that.”
“I’d still like to see it. We need to know what our role in the company is as well as how you fit into everything. Are you going to be the CEO or just a silent partner infusing the business with cash?”
A flash of something came over Maxwell’s eyes, but Kaleb missed it. Farrah didn’t though as the look seemed to make her tense up slightly. Kaleb’s hand went down to his weapon as Maxwell put on a well-practiced smile.
“I can see to it that you get CC’d on all business paperwork. But I can assure you, it’s all pretty standard. I get several new supers to sign onto a greater contract for Austin, and then we declare a merger of those contracts. Each one of the new SGs is considered an LLC with special rules dictated by City Hall. By the time the HLO figures out what we’re doing, we’ll be too big to ignore.”
Farrah still seemed pretty tense, and Kaleb didn’t like the way things were going. So he decided to give them an out.
“It’s sounds great to me,” Kaleb said, drawing the stink-eye from Farrah again. “But the Lone Star Hounds are a democracy. I’ll have to bring your idea to my compatriots. Also, I imagine you have others you want to bring this deal to? So why don’t you do that and then contact us again?”
Kaleb got to his feet after pouring himself another cup of coffee. He carried the steaming mug over to Farrah and offered her his arm. She stood from her chair and nodded at the alderman, still lost in her own thoughts. Maxwell watched them walk to the door and even gave them a wave goodbye. But Kaleb saw a flash of anger cover the alien’s eyes.
Kaleb kept his cool as they exited the room, appearing back in the restaurant’s hallway. He and Farrah remained quiet as they walked down the hallway, back out to the dining area and over to the front door. Kaleb placed his now empty cup on the Maître D’s desk and hurriedly ushered Farrah out of the building. Neither of them said a word until they were safely seated in her car and even then, only once it was moving.
“I…” Kaleb started to say, but Farrah raised a hand to stop him.
She pressed a few buttons on her car’s console and the smell of ozone filled the car. A loud pop-hiss echoed in Kaleb’s ear along with a bright flash of light. When he blinked the spots away, Kaleb looked around, confused. Farrah hit a few more buttons and their car took off into the sky, the feeling of weightlessness hitting Kaleb’s stomach.
“Okay, we should be good.”
“What the fuck was that?”
“Automated bug sweeper. It’s been hooked into the car. I don’t think it found anything. But better safe than sorry.”
Kaleb glanced out the window as they joined the early morning traffic in the sky around Austin. He watched as Farrah turned on the auto-drive and sighed as she sat back in her chair.
“Thoughts?”
“He’s planning something.”
“I figured. But what about the rest of it?”
“Honestly?” Farrah brushed a strand of hair from her face and grinned at him. “It sounds good. But maybe a little too good?”
“Yeah. I was thinking the same thing. I don’t know what his actual plan is, but we might just get to stick a finger in the HLO’s greedy eye.”
“But you weren’t wrong. We need to get back and discuss things with the others.”
Kaleb nodded as he settled back into his seat and looked out the window. Below them, the hustle and bustle of Downtown Austin scrambled in every direction. Supers burst through the air and ran through the streets as HLO and police drones zoomed across the sky. Other players rushed around to stop various crimes as Kaleb floated above them, thinking about overthrowing the largest corporate entity in Austin.