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DATE:19th of June, the 70th year after the Coronation
LOCATION: Concord Metropolis
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The next day, the dreaded dinner with Alice's parents was looming. It wasn't nerves that made me want to dodge it-her stories about them were enough to make anyone lose their appetite. Controlling, overbearing, and judgmental sounded like the highlights. But I had no hero work to lean on as an excuse, so I resigned myself to enduring it.
Still, the thought of a quiet day didn't mean I was going to sit inside. Alice kept insisting I rest, but I waved her off, saying I just needed some air. A walk would be fine, even with this clunky support on my leg.
As I was limping along the sidewalk, trying to clear my head before the dreaded dinner with Alice's parents, my phone rang. Unknown number. My eyes narrowed as I debated answering, but curiosity got the better of me.
I picked up. "Yeah?"
A pause, and then a voice, deep and smug, seeped through the line. "You really should learn to let go of things that aren't yours. This path won't end well for you, I assure you."
I scoffed, already feeling a surge of irritation. "And you are?"
"You know who I am," he replied, his tone slipping into something colder. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll give her up. You can't protect her. Not from us."
Emily. I clenched my teeth, feigning a yawn to taunt him. "Is this the best you've got? More empty threats? If you knew anything, you'd know where I am and come say it to my face."
The line went quiet for a moment, but I could almost feel his sneer through the silence. "I don't need to come to you. I have eyes everywhere, and soon enough, you'll understand just how pointless your little efforts are. Hand her over and walk away before you're in too deep."
"Or what?" I shot back. "You'll keep sending these creepy little voicemails?"
A slight growl escaped him, and his voice lowered. "You really think you're untouchable, don't you? That the heroes will always protect you?"
"You think they won't?" I replied, my voice almost amused. "I've got their trust, and they'll be on you like bloodhounds if I say the word. So why don't you do me a favor and take your threats somewhere else?"
"Careful, boy," he hissed, the confidence wavering. "There are fates far worse than death. You've already seen what happens to people who cross us."
"Yeah?" I leaned into the phone, lowering my voice to match his. "Tell you what—come find me. Or better yet, keep running. It's the only thing you're good at, isn't it?"
"Enjoy your arrogance while it lasts," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "It'll be your downfall."
"Oh, please," I said with a chuckle. "I've heard scarier bedtime stories."
There was a sharp intake of breath on his end, and then he hung up. I slipped my phone back into my pocket, my irritation replaced by a cold determination. They could talk all they wanted.
Emily messages me anxiously, but I tell her off. She shouldn't be bothered by such cowards.
As I tucked my phone away, Emily's voice chimed through the earpiece, her tone edged with something I couldn't quite place.
"So, who was she, really? This… 'old friend' of yours?"
I raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Just what she said, Emily. An old friend." I shrugged, even though I knew she couldn't see it. "Actually, she's not even that, if I'm being honest."
"Really?" Emily pressed, her tone carrying a hint of skepticism. "You two seemed... awfully close for just 'old friends.' You even slept in the same bed back at the casino."
"That was... because we were forced to act close in some rough situations. We had to, and it just sort of stuck." I paused, hoping that would satisfy her, but Emily didn't let up.
"You might say that, but it still feels strange. I can't help it—I'm jealous," she admitted, her voice softer now.
I shook my head with a smirk. "There's nothing to be jealous of, Emily. There's nothing between me and Sophie."
She fell silent, though I could almost feel her lingering doubt on the other end. In the first place I didn't get her problem. Even if she deludes herself from those times in my mind that she can actually feel emotion or love for that matter, does she have any concept about a relationship? I am sure her creator didn't program such absurdities. She was supposed to be a phone assistant.
She... Didn't want a relationship with me, right?
I mean, I never heard her complain about Alice, but who knows...
I returned to the apartment, the door clicking shut behind me. Alice had already left, which was unusual. She mostly worked from home, her graphic design gig keeping her busy but flexible. Something important must've come up at Bubble TV for her to leave in such a rush.
I sank into the couch, turning on the TV and zoning out into a movie. I wasn't really paying attention; the silence was too loud, and I couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control.
My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Superior Woman. Her voice, when she spoke, sounded drained, like she hadn't slept in a while.
"I need you to bring the briefcase to the professor. He needs to see what's inside." Her words were direct, but the underlying fatigue in her tone didn't go unnoticed. I could almost hear the weight of the situation pressing down on her.
I winced, looking down at my leg. "I don't have a car, and with my foot like this, driving's out of the question even if I had one."
There was a long pause, and I could hear her let out a tired sigh. "Fine," she said, the weariness in her voice thickening. "I'll come get you. Be at street level when I get there."
She hung up without another word, and I leaned back, yawning. I wonder what was inside that briefcase.
I had Emily report me about that investigation that is ongoing over what Blazer did. It doesn't look like he will get out of a long and grueling sentence. Considering SuperiorWoman, I don't think she would want such a strong asset to go...
I am harsh on her, but Blazer was in the League since her cousin created it. He must have known about it. Or, he was just that naive. Either case depreciates that impeccable morality UltraMan had.
It would be really bad if the Governor was involved. Not because I fear the crown, though.
Concord was left demilitarized and with a purged nobility after the conquest. The royal Investigators barely do anything, but the businessmen class that emerged with the industrialisation brought on civil militia, a sort of private security that poses as policemen.
They aren't allowed to wield anything greater than sub-machine guns. No, I fear the royal Governor himself.
No one knows what he is capable of as no one saw him, but if he got this position from the young King it must mean he hails from a powerful family.
Those kinds of connections are dangerous. If he had the psyker on his side, supposedly an A class mercenary like the Changeling, he could have many others on standby. I did technically get stronger, but this worse Bullet Time I can use multiple times would be useless for most of the higher tier assassins. With the psyker I only survived because of an internal force that tries to end my life. Not even that. If he wasn't rushing I would have died. I don't think he even used his full power as he trapped me in a mental room. My other teammates he killed instantly. If the Governor sent a sniper or someone like me, able to increase his speed, I would be done for.
I hope it is an associate of Secundo Manus and the thing with the Royal Investigators was a coincidence, but who really knows.
Sarah pulled up in a modest sedan, a car that seemed at odds with her usual poise and commanding presence. I slipped into the passenger seat, and we headed out of Concord, moving steadily toward the professor's remote laboratory. She kept her focus on the road, her mouth a tight line, and I didn't bother trying to break the silence. Something weighed heavily on her, and I wasn't in the mood to pry.
As we approached the lab, signs of a recent skirmish became impossible to ignore. Charred marks scarred the walls, and parts of the entryway were littered with debris from shattered drones and scorched security bots. Sarah tensed, her fingers gripping the wheel. "Stay in the car," she said firmly, her voice barely masking her unease.
I scoffed, swinging open the door. "You know that's not going to happen." Her protests fell silent as I stepped forward, pushing my way into the darkened corridors.
Inside, the signs of battle were clearer—Mundi's security robots lay in twisted, sparking heaps on the floor, their metal frames bent and blackened. Whoever had come through here hadn't held back. Still, I noticed small drones working among the wreckage, efficiently collecting damaged parts and attempting to clear the path. This was clearly protocol—an automatic cleanup after whatever clash had already ended. Whatever or whoever had attacked was long gone.
I moved deeper into the facility, scanning each turn. If this was what the psyker was capable of, then this was going to be more complicated than I'd anticipated.
As we moved further into the intact sections of the facility, a crackling voice came over an intercom. "You're heading the wrong way," it instructed, carrying a subtle tone of exasperation. "Come to the south wing. Minimal damage here."
I exchanged a glance with Sarah and turned, following the professor's directions through another corridor until we reached an area with noticeably less debris and destruction. Soon enough, we saw him standing there, unscathed and calm in his pristine hazmat suit, his expression half-hidden by the thick visor but exuding a strange sense of satisfaction.
"Ah, you made it. Apologies for the mess," he said, gesturing to the faint scorch marks along the walls. "It seems Secundo Manus sent his little acolyte, Vierna, with a few of his hired grunts. Thought she'd be able to breach my defenses and… well, the results speak for themselves."
He let out a dry chuckle, almost dismissive. "Quite amusing, really. Vierna, with all her bravado, couldn't even break through the most basic of my defenses. My tier-four security drones were more than enough to turn her away."
The professor crossed his arms, shaking his head slowly. "Secundo always did lack discernment in choosing his disciples. To think he believed she could outmatch me." He chuckled again, a faint satisfaction in his tone. "Tier-four units—barely above my older models, mind you—yet they sent her scrambling away. Perhaps he truly believes that raw power alone is enough to conquer intellect." It seems like the professor already has a complex to feed here. It makes sense considering their history. Yes, this whole rivalry is between machinery versus biology.
He paused, glancing at us as if expecting agreement. "Of course, they won't be back anytime soon. Not after seeing how easily I repelled them. But this," he said, nodding toward the briefcase, "is intriguing. I take it this is what she was after?"
I handed the vial over to the professor, feeling a certain grim satisfaction as I laid out the pattern. "This isn't random, Professor. Secundo Manus has been hitting places with purpose: two labs under Silvian Morris, factories under Matthew's name, and even a warehouse kept quiet under the Donn." I folded my arms, eyeing him. "He's got a plan. A project. This chaos has a direction."
I paused, my mind flickering back to the one vial I couldn't secure. "The other one… it looked like some kind of blood sample—"
Sarah cut in before I could finish, her tone sharp. "Professor, look at what we actually have. This isn't just a sample… it's an amalgamation. Flesh, patched together."
The professor chuckled, low and amused, holding the vial up to the light with an odd glint in his eyes. "Oh, now this is fascinating," he murmured, examining the twisted, unnatural mass floating inside. "A creature of mixed genetics, perhaps? Or worse, a deliberate construct… Secundo Manus's trademark." He glanced at Sarah with a wry grin. "Our friend seems to have thrown ethics out the window in favor of something… entirely new."
Then he looked back at me, his face shifting to a more serious expression. "You're absolutely right. There's nothing random about this. Manus is building something—but the question is, what?"
Sarah started leaving, but stopped at the door, looking at me. I still didn't move. I had a question for the professor.
" I've been thinking, how come you didn't try to offer your robots in the service of the city? It's strange that such a big metropolis has no army nor police, right?"
He glances that me from the vial and I could see he was thinking deeply.
" It's not like I haven't tried, but this city has been kept defenseless for a reason. The Royal Governor's sole purpose is to keep it that way if you didn't realize until now."
I was confused. This seemed counterproductive. All of these heroes were being paid much more than what a police administration would have been.
"So what is the reason? Ventia has a police and from what I know their war was much more brutal."
" The difference is in population. Comparatively speaking, back when they were both conquered Ventia had 30 times the population of Concord, not to mention the size, from the Alps to Sicily... Nowadays it is quite the opposite. Their population is about equal."
He saw that I didn't get it so he continued.
" It is much easier to govern over people who can't fight back, is what I meant."
"Come on Will!" I could sense from her tone that Sarah was tensed up, But I ignored her.
" Aren't the heroes independent? Wouldn't that be more dangerous than just having the police?"
" I certainly wish the heroes were independent-" the professor couldn't finish what he was trying to say because Superior woman grabbed my arm.
" Enough of this Professor, William already has too many things focus on."
"Surely." This just confirms it. There is something Sarah is hiding from me.
Something to do with the league and even with that vial. Whose blood was that?
I meet her glare while walking back to the car and stumble just slightly. She had a very scary expression, not meant for me but just neutrally thrown out there. I don't think she even realized how she appeared.
If being a leader was so hard for her then I would say to just give up, but I suppose for some they just can't stand tarnishing their pride.
Easy to say she didn't talk during our drive back.
" At home" I waited another hour, watching the clock and trying not to imagine every possible way this dinner could go wrong. When I finally heard the key turn in the lock, I straightened, trying to look like I hadn't been stewing in my own thoughts.
Alice walked in with a small, nervous smile, giving me a look as if she was reading my mind.
"Ready to face the storm?" she asked, keeping it light, though I could see the tension around her eyes.
I smirked. "As ready as I'll ever be. Just don't hold it against me if I need a few breaks to keep my sanity."
She rolled her eyes, letting out a laugh as she slipped her arm through mine. "They're not that bad. Just... opinionated. Loudly opinionated."
I snorted. Understatement of the year, probably, judging by the stories she'd told me.
As we left the apartment, I braced myself, but a small part of me felt resigned. Meeting her parents was inevitable at this point, and with my foot in bad shape, I didn't have any good excuses to dodge it.
When we finally pulled up in front of her family's place, I took a deep breath and muttered, "Let's just get this over with."
She squeezed my arm. "Thanks for doing this."
I gave her a tight smile. "Let's hope I survive."
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