The speaker at the crosswalk beeped insistently as the crowd began walking across the road. I stuck nearby Rache, my eyes flitting to and fro as the throng of people boiled around us. I wasn’t usually a big fan of the city center, but today was sort of a special occasion, at least for me.
Part of our increased training regime was something I hadn’t done since I was eight: a sleepover. Or sleepovers, each weekend until I was up to snuff for the Ritters. Even with the promise of two straight days of hard work, I was excited. Sure come Monday I’d probably be exhausted but, like Rache always promised, it was getting easier.
The past week, the second of daily training, had left me sore and tired, even right now. Despite that, I was looking forward to whatever Rache had cooked up for us. We were working better together now, more naturally. I barely even flinched when she touched me anymore. Things really were looking up.
“So,” Rache said as we turned onto a slightly less crowded street. “I was thinking we get something to eat, then go back to my place?” I nodded happily.
“Sure,” I replied easily. “Whatcha thinking? Thai?”
“Pizza?” she asked and I nodded eagerly. A smile grew on my lips, matching hers.
“Hell yeah,” I answered. “Can we get a Canadian?”
“Meat lovers,” she countered.
“Carnivore,” I teased playfully. “Maybe we should just get a steak dinner.”
“The day you hit my level,” Rache retorted. “Is the day I treat you to a steak.”
“What motivation…”
“What can I say? I’m an amazing coach.”
We lapsed into a comfortable silence and kept walking. It had taken some work, but I was happy I could really banter with Rache now. It made me feel like I could actually be her Duo. That was a little silly, Duos needed a hell of a lot more than a little banter, but it was a nice start.
“Hey, wanna watch a movie tonight?” Rache asked suddenly.
“Uh, sure,” I replied, a bit taken aback. “You have one in mind?”
“Got a free copy of ‘Bite and Hold’ if that sounds good.”
“What’s it about?”
“It’s set during the Empowered War,” she explained, her face brightening. “It follows a Duo through the trenches in 1919, months before the end.”
“Oh cool,” I said, perking up. “So like, an action movie?”
“Not exactly, more a historical drama.”
“Oh.” That didn’t sound quite so interesting. “But like, it’s about Empowered right?”
“Yeah, but also the war,” Rache replied with a shrug. “I don’t know, but it should be pretty good.”
“Okay.” I had a feeling she wouldn’t want to watch something like ‘Ritter Errant’ anyway. Besides, maybe this would be good!
“I guess war films aren’t your thing?”
“No, sorry,” I apologized with a wince.
“What do you like?” Rache asked lightly. “Can always watch something else. Copy doesn’t expire for another week so I can watch it on my own.”
“No, no it’s fine,” I replied quickly. I didn’t want to screw up tonight. “I don’t mind. Um, I like a lot of stuff, but it’s like, kiddy.” I blushed and my gaze fell to the sidewalk.
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“So? You’re a kid.” I bristled and opened my mouth to retort. “You like what you like, and that’s fine with me.”
“Oh.” I paused and shut my mouth, unsure. “Um, I like stuff like ‘Ritter Errant’ and ‘10-Block Yeomen’.”
“Hey, Dad watches ‘10 Block’! Or…did.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Rache said tensely, but shrugged. “I’m not a big fan of…work shows, you know?”
“That makes sense.” She had been a hero for years. The fake stuff probably grated, probably would on me too eventually.
“Anyway,” she said, the tension disappearing. “Once we–”
Rache was cut off by a staccato burst of gunfire nearby. Both of us shared a look, then took off charging towards the sound. My heart hammered in my chest as we rounded the corner and saw what lay ahead.
Two ShadowSec guards lay bleeding beside their armoured car, in front of a bank. A pair of uties were parked out front, doors open. The large beds behind the cabs had jump seats bolted in. There could be a lot of bad guys. Their sides were painted with red stars that had yellow symbols inside it. A hammer, anvil, and grim reaper thing. Below the logo, the letters ‘NBR’ sent a shiver up my spine. They’d been quiet since their debut, I’d almost forgotten. A scream echoed out from inside the bank and I flinched.
“Come on,” Rache snapped and pointed to a nearby alley.
I scrambled after her and we ducked behind a dumpster. She snapped at me to keep a lookout, and I mostly did as she hastily changed, snapping one of her bra straps in the process. She quickly donned her costume and became Fusillade. Most of the decorations, the silver aiguillette and red bandoleer, were gone. The big, cursive ‘F’ was still emblazoned in gold, looking more like a logo than a letter. Besides that, her costume was pretty plain actually.
A poor match for mine, in drab blacks and dull greys, but we played to our strengths. I changed faster than I ever had as Fusillade kept watch, tapping her foot impatiently. I zipped everything up and clipped my taser to my belt. I was in such a hurry I skipped the joint pads. Fusillade nodded as I rose, gestured for me to be quiet, then led me deeper into the alley. I followed on her heels, silent as I could be, until we paused in front of a door. Fusillade pressed her thumb to a section of wall, then it slid open.
“Thank god,” she breathed, then turned to me. “Follow me, stay close, stay silent. Got it?” I nodded, and in we went.
We stalked through the back halls of the bank. It looked like some kind of maintenance area. Hopefully the bad guys didn’t know about it… Well, even if they did, I knew Fusillade could handle them. I’d help of course, maybe stealthily taking out the unpowered grunts. They were more on my level anyway.
Fusillade pushed open a door, peeked out, then quickly went through. With no idea where to go, I followed like a lost puppy. I heard the distant mumble of conversation, growing louder as we kept walking. My heart pounded so hard in my chest I was tempted to turn on my power to make sure it stayed silent. I resisted though, padding silently along the linoleum floor with no Empowered help.
We passed a few offices and a lot of cubicles. I thought this was a bank, but maybe it was for something else too? It seemed like way too much for just a bank to need. I paused and peered into a dark, empty office. It looked…normal I guess, not that I had a point of reference.
Fusillade suddenly pushed the door open and shoved me inside. I couldn’t help the deep breath I drew, or the way my power activated without a thought. I stumbled and fell to my knees as Fusillade shut the door quietly behind us.
“--really think that’s everyone?” a weedy voice came through the door, muffled.
“Shut it,” another, deeper one barked. “We need how many the Vanguard says.”
“Sure comrade sure,” the weedy voice came against, fading as they passed the office. “But ain’t three abies able to…” Gradually the conversation faded away. We were left in silence as the terrorists moved further into the back offices.
After another minute of tense, silent waiting, I killed my power. Fusillade started as she turned her head, but relaxed quickly as she recognized me and nodded in approval. Despite my heart racing away, that felt good. I’d used my powers right.
We continued towards more noises ahead, conversation punctuated by quiet whimpers. My eyes were so wide I was worried they’d pop out of my head. I was shaking, shivering really. From fear or excitement I couldn’t tell. I kept one hand near my taser as we pressed on.
We got close enough to catch scattered words. Just the sharp ones: exclamations about the ‘bougie pigs’ and ‘cap leeches’. The glower on Fusillade’s face deepened as we approached a beam of light coming from a large hole in the wall. That...probably hadn’t been there before, judging by its ragged edges.
“Comrade Anvil!” a voice cried suddenly. “Ritters in the back!” I froze. It felt like someone dropped a block of ice into my gut. By contrast, Fusillade practically exploded into motion.
As a hulking person clambered through the hole in the wall, she fired a quick pair of laser shots at their head. It snapped back and she charged in to follow up just like she taught me. The veritable giant recovered fast, like they’d never been hit, and I opened my mouth to warn Fusillade.
Too late. I heard the hideous crunch of bone as the giant’s fist slammed home into the hero’s nose. I let out a quiet yelp as she crumpled to the ground. Then the villain turned their terrible gaze on me.
With a deep breath, my power activated, a barely conscious response. The giant blinked once, then grabbed Fusillade and slung her onto their shoulders like a sack of potatoes. She was carried through the hole to the sounds of triumphant cheers and mocking insults.
Well. Shit.