I was weak.The Emperor left me with a fragment of the power I had. But I worked my way back up. Draining the life from one Invader after another.

It had been nearly six hours since the incident at the base, but Danny still felt like his heart was pounding in his chest. The truck vibrated beneath him, but he could barely feel it as he struggled to control his own shaking. Looking out the window only made him feel worse as the speedway made the landscape go by too quickly, and was anything but calming.

Danny had known there would be risks going into this; he knew that it might even be impossible, but he hadn’t expected the situation to escalate so quickly. He also hadn’t truly understood how powerful Legacy was, and honestly it was a little frightening. His ability to Mimic powers could only duplicate a tenth of what the original Super could do, but Danny now realized that even that small fraction of Legacy’s power could be terrifying.

After the entire camp had frozen in place, the NGG’s top Hero had made a lengthy speech about Danny being under his protection, and the responsibilities of people with power. By the end he was right up in the frozen faces of the suited twins, practically screaming about authority and strength. Finally he’d grabbed Danny and marched toward the base’s exit, where he commandeered a transport vehicle. Legacy didn’t release the camp from his ability until they were driving away.

And he called me his ‘Ward’, Danny thought, still struggling to believe everything that had happened. Truthfully he barely knew the term, and had to do a subtle look-up when they were safely driving away. It was an older term, and a real reminder that Legacy had been born in the 1930s, but it basically meant that Danny was under the man’s protection. It kinda implied he’d been adopted, but he doubted that was how Legacy had intended it.

Danny tried to pull his mind back to the present, hoping the boredom of the long car trip would finally convince his body that no one needed this much adrenaline. He and Legacy were sitting next to each other in the back of the large, heavy transport truck, and the world’s greatest Superhero had been making furious calls non-stop since they got in.

A couple of Elites were in the front, and Danny wondered how they felt taking orders from someone who’d basically told the NGG to go screw itself earlier that day. Looking back out the window, he saw that they appeared to be leaving the speedway. They’d shifted to the magnetic track on the far right, and Danny knew that meant they would soon be slowed down before leaving the tracks and going back to normal driving.

Noticing that Legacy was in one of the brief pauses between angry calls, Danny asked a nervous question. “Are we almost at Infinity tower?” Legacy looked over at him, and sighed.

“Sorry, Daniel, we have another stop to make. I’ve been back and forth with our liaison from NGG and the admin team. I’ve made it explicitly clear that you’ll be staying with me, but there’s a lot of bruised egos after what I did.”

“What does that mean?” Danny asked.

“They’re making arguments about what’s in your best interest, but I think we have them cornered. They’re pushing for their own medical team to examine you, to make sure you’re ‘okay’ after ordeals.” Danny’s heart started beating rapidly again.

“I don’t want to be poked and prodded again,” he said. “I’ve had more than enough of that.”

Legacy smiled, “Don’t worry, Daniel, I’ve got this covered. I pushed them to agree that we need you examined, but I happen to be personal friends with the most accomplished and respected healer alive.” Danny’s eyes widened.

“Wait, you can’t mean…I thought she–” he cut himself off, not wanting to mention the death of Mender, another original member of the Great Hero’s team. Legacy must be referring to some new generation hero.

“It’s okay, I know what people think, but Allison just wanted out of the spotlight. You probably know her as Mender, but she hated that name, and the entire idea of being a superhero.” He leaned back and looked out the window.

“She knew we needed her back in the day, when there were still Invaders to clean up. She understood the world couldn’t survive without us doing what we did, so she stuck around long enough to make sure we survived the war and its aftermath. After that though…” The sounds of the truck switching to regular drive interrupted him, and both he and Danny looked out at the landscape now moving past them at a less sickening pace.

“Well, Allison was always her own kind of hero. She was training to be a doctor before the Invasion, and that wasn’t easy for a woman back in the thirties. But it was her calling, and she’s an extremely determined person. The moment she believed we were safe, she started a world-tour of healing, helping everyone she could.”

“And you think she’s willing to help me?” Danny asked, not sure how this changed things for him.

“She’s been able to take longer breaks lately, now that the NGG has healing facilities and new technologies, so she has the time. Besides, she’d never turn down someone who needed help.” His face took on a strange expression. “She might be a little…well, just try to remember that she’s a lot older than she looks, and she’s had a hard life.”

“Um, okay,” Danny answered, now equal parts worried and confused.

***

An hour later the truck pulled up in front of a small farmhouse. Danny didn’t even know what State they were in, but the sun was setting, and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees was peaceful. Danny followed Legacy up onto the faded wooden porch, and was surprised to see the truck drive away, both Elites still inside.

“Allison will put us up for the night, and we’ll make for the Tower tomorrow,” Legacy said as he knocked on the red door. Danny didn’t say anything, feeling overwhelmed by the situation he was caught up in. I figured they’d just drop me off at the Tower and have me do push ups or something, he thought as they waited for a supposedly dead legend to let them inside.

At last the door opened, and a tall woman with brown hair and dark eyes was revealed. She was wearing sweats and a loose button-up shirt, and looked to be in her late twenties. “You’ve brought a lot of shit to my doorstep, Sam,” she said, before turning and disappearing into the house. Legacy sighed.

“Come on, Daniel, try not to get taken in by Allison’s many charms,” a barked laugh could be heard from inside the house, and Danny obediently followed. He was somewhat surprised by the decor when he looked around. It reminded him of visiting his grandparents when he’d been young. Colorful, floral wallpaper, dark wooden furniture, and blankets and quilts on everything.

He followed Legacy into a living room that opened onto an old fashioned kitchen, where Mender was pouring two drinks from a fancy bottle. She glanced back into the living room before getting lemonade from the fridge and filling a third glass. “Do you have any idea how many phone calls I’ve gotten today, Sam?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Sorry Allison, I know you value your peace and quiet, but the circumstances are…unusual.”

She joined them in the sitting room, gesturing for the two guests to sit on a couch as she placed drinks and some cookies on a coffee table between them. A fire was lit in the nearby hearth, despite the time of year, and Danny felt it was a bit too warm, even if it was cozy. Mender sat in a rocking chair across from them, then spoke.

“I’m aware of the circumstances. You finally have a mini-you and you’re willing to throw your entire life away to keep him to yourself.” Legacy glared, and Mender barked another derisive laugh. “If you think it’s less serious than that, Sam then you really have no idea of the storm of shit that you’ve kicked up with this.”

“I’ve been a good soldier long enough to be owed a little leeway,” he replied firmly.

“Leeway? Sam, let me tell you what I’ve heard so far today. The first Chancellor who called threatened my life if I agreed to help you. The second one knew how pointless that was, and instead suggested I should declare you mentally unstable. The third Chancellor tried to find a subtle way of asking whether I could disable you long enough for a team to take you away.”

Danny’s eyes had grown wider with each piece of information, and his mouth was hanging open by the end. Surprisingly though, Legacy laughed. “Hundred bucks says I can guess each Chancellor first try,” Mender laughed with him.

“I won’t take that bet, those assholes never change,” she responded.

“So what did you say?” Legacy asked with a smile.

“I just listed off a couple of fun facts about my own power set,” she said with a coy smile before sipping her drink.

“Let me guess, the range at which you can shut down a nervous system? Did Chancellor Murdock even take the hint?”

She let out a sigh while rolling her eyes. “I had to remind him how far Washington is from my house before he put two and two together.” Mender snorted. “Every story about eternal youth I’ve ever heard goes on and on about all the people who’ll die of old age while you stay young, but they never talk about the idiots who seem to live forever along the way.”

They were both quiet for a moment, sipping their drinks, and Danny hesitantly took a cookie. Finally Legacy spoke again, “Thanks for taking us in, Allison. You know that I don’t like bringing trouble to your door, but this…” he glanced at Danny. “I don’t like how they were looking at the boy,” he added, clearly trying to be cryptic.

Mender nodded. “If he’s really a Power Shaper, then it’s hardly a shock,” she looked at Danny then, finally acknowledging his existence. “Well, kid, are you?”

“Um, I honestly don’t know much about it,” Danny said, trying to use as much truth as possible. “I haven’t had my powers that long, and they took me by surprise. I’m still getting a grip on them, and I haven’t had any guidance. All I know is that today I did what Legacy does, and it was beautiful.”

Mender stared at him, her eyes narrowed. A long moment passed, and he felt himself withering under her steady gaze. At last she stood up, then walked around the table to put a hand on his shoulder. A wave of cold passed through him, and he felt…good. Great, even. His anxiety calmed, the constant throb of adrenaline pumping through his veins seemed to stop, and his whole body relaxed.

Mender nodded, then returned to her seat. “Whatever was done to you, kid, you’re in perfect health now. There’s some sandwiches on the counter, grab a couple then head upstairs and get some rest. Second door on the right. Bed’s ready.”

Danny looked back and forth between the two ancient heroes, confused. Legacy nodded, and so Danny complied, realizing he was as starving as he was exhausted.

***

Daniel took three sandwiches and made his way upstairs, mumbling a confused ‘goodnight’ as he did so. Sam watched him go, before compulsively expanding his senses as far as they could reach, making sure they were truly alone. Finally he turned back to Allison.

“Grown up talk?” he asked, and she took another sip of gin in reply. After a long moment, she finally began what he knew would be an unpleasant conversation.

“What the hell are you doing, Sammy?” she asked.

“You know what I’m doing. I’m making sure the kid survives long enough that he can take care of himself.”

“Survives what?” Allison said in a leading tone. “They can’t hear us here, Sam, I’ve made sure of it. Eight separate Techs have made sure of it.”

Sam stared down at his drink. He hated gin. “I believe in the NGG’s mission,” he said at last. “But the NGG is full of people, and people love power. If he’s really the next Legacy. Legacy’s legacy, as it were–”

“Terrible,” she cut in, shaking her head.

“If he’s really another Power Shaper,” Sam continued, ignoring her interruption, “then there’s going to be no end to the list of people who will want to exploit him, and use him for their own ends.” He paused, taking a sip of the too-sweet liquor. “Kids have gone missing before, Ally. If they decide he’s not becoming who they want him to be…”

“Wow,” she said, sounding genuine. “I never thought I’d hear you say a bad word about your overlords.”

Sam glared. “All I’ve ever done has been for this world, and the people in it.” He spoke more softly, “And for James…you haven’t–”

“I haven’t heard from James in twenty years, Sam, and I don’t expect to. You need to stop thinking about that man. He did what he could, while he could. But believe me, and think about my seven doctorates in psychology when I remind you that he was a broken, doomed man.” Sam put his head in his hands, and Allison put on a gentler tone.

“You need to forgive him one of these days, Sam. He gave everything he could to this world, but he’d been through too much. You don’t commit genocide of an entire species, living on the knife’s edge for a decade, all the while knowing any slip means the end of humanity, then come out the other side with a smile on your face.”

“I know!” Sam said, louder than he intended, but having heard this too many times before. “It doesn’t make it any easier that he left me–us,” he corrected quickly. Allison just smiled sadly. She knew that Sam had been a teenager when James had saved his life, and made him into who he was now.

“Your therapist called me as well, Sam,” Allison said softly, and he swore.

“And what did the brilliant Mr. Clark say?” he asked with irritation.

“Exactly what you expect. James left, I left, Ellie and Enzo left–”

“Betrayed us, you mean,” Sam said sharply. “Don’t lump those traitors in with you and James. I might be mad at you two, but you didn’t abandon humanity.”

Allison sighed, “I saw Enzo last week, Sam, he didn’t betray anyone. He’s a corporate asshole now, and he only cares about his next stupid gadget, but he’s not a traitor.” Sam grunted, and Allison shook her head.

“But it’s not humanity he betrayed, was it?” she prompted.

“I’m not here to talk about that,” Sam said with finality.

“Fine, we won’t get into it. But you know your own diagnosis, Sam, and you know why there’s a lot of people worried right now.”

Sam leaned back on the couch, sighing. “Rejection issues, attachment disorder, fear of abandonment, blah, blah, blah. We didn’t used to listen to shrinks.”

Allison rolled her eyes. “Right, and everyone in the fifties was so well adjusted. Look Sam, I don’t want to talk to you about this, but I have to. You are not James, and this kid is not you. Just remember that, okay?”

Sam was quiet for a long time, finally taking another sip of the increasingly tolerable gin. “I know, alright? And I know that it’s dangerous to want this, but that doesn’t mean it has to be wrong. He has my powers, Ally, he’s like me. He needs me. I can help him.”

Allison leaned across the table and put a hand on his knee. “Sam, if you want to keep him safe, you can do that. You can fight off the whole damn world if you want to. Just make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Sam looked into her eyes, and repeated himself. “He’s like me, Ally, and I’ve fought the whole world before.”