Wednesday 29 July 2015

Interlude - Jaeger

“Hello,” says Adelina Baehr as she opens the door to the science lab.

“You’re back,” says her teacher, Miss Floretta Grunewald, “I’ll be off to the toilet then.”

Adelina holds the door open for her teacher. It’s Miss Grunewald’s first year as their chemistry teacher, but she’s doing well.

Dieter is at his work space again, performing another experiment. Dieter Kaiser doesn’t look like much with a slim body, short black hair and soft brown eyes. His lab coat and protective goggles does fit in him though.

Dieter Kaiser is an interesting person. He’s one of the smartest if not the smartest person that Adelina knows and is split between his ambition and his passion. Dieter’s ambition is to be an important and famous politician while his passion is chemistry.

Adelina on the other hand doesn’t aspire to much and aims to become an officer in the military as it is traditional to do so in the family. Adelina’s father is a general in the army while two of her three older brothers are also in the army. Unlike Dieter, Adelina is quite the sight with an athletic body, nice blonde hair and pleasant blue eyes.

But they get along great. The two of them have been best friends since they met as little kids. In fact, Adelina has been meaning to asks Dieter out as her boyfriend, but always loses her nerve.

“Hi Adelina,” says Dieter without looking up from his experiment.

“Hey Dieter,” replies Adelina as she sits down at the table behind Dieter, “How’s your experiment going?”

“Quite well,” answers Dieter, “I got something to show you later. Something I would like to keep private.”

Okay, now Adelina is intrigued. If Dieter has a secret, he’ll either tell Adelina or his family first.
Adelina looks around as she takes her coat off. She often gets bored waiting for Dieter while he’s engrossed in an experiment, especially since he likes to spent time afterschool doing them.

Adelina spots a bottle of cola on the table that’s she sitting at. Miss Grunewald doesn’t drink cola or if she does, she doesn’t do so in school. That means it has to long to Dieter and Dieter won’t mind too much if she drinks it as she waits.

She picks up and starts drinking. Adelina gags as it hits her stomach. It feels like her body is on fire. She looks at the cola and blinks. Cola isn’t supposed to be green, thinks Adelina as she puts the cola bottle back down.

“Dieter,” says Adelina quietly as she tries to ignore the pain, “About the cola on the table.”

“Oh yeah,” says Dieter quite loudly, “Do not drink that. Trust me, you really don’t want to.”

“Yeah,” groans Adelina as she slumps against the table, “It’s a bit late for that.”

“Oh no,” whispers Dieter in alarmed tone as he spins around to face Adelina, “You weren’t supposed to drink that.”

Adelina doesn’t speak as the pain starts to die down. She feels odd and different. Her hair feels longer and her body feels stronger. As she stares up at Dieter, the world seems, clear and more focused. Adelina see far more detail and can even faintly hear a couple of teachers in a classroom a few doors down the corridor. Her clothes also feel extremely tight on her body.

“I’m so sorry,” apologises Dieter as he helps Adelina up, “I really am.”

He seems small to her. In fact, everything seems smaller to Adelina for some reason.

“I wanted to show you one of my potions later,” continues Dieter, “One of the temporary ones of course. I didn’t expect you to drink this one. I guess I shouldn’t have left it out where anyone could find it.”

“What did I drink?” demands Adelina as she looks down at Dieter.

Everything is weird for Adelina. For starters, she used to be smaller than Dieter, but now Adelina is the taller one. Her voice also has a bit of a growl to it.

Wait. What was it that Dieter. He wanted to show her one of the temporary ones. But that would mean that...

“It’s permanent isn’t it,” whispers Adelina.

To his credit, Dieter does look extremely guilty and sorry. He can barely look Adelina in the eye as he replies.

“Yeah, it is,” answers Dieter, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s my fault,” disagrees Adelina, “I drank it without asking and I’ve paid the price. Just tell what has happened.”

“You know how people have suddenly started developing powers?” says Dieter and Adelina nods, 
“Well, I got the ability to make these impossible potions that do impossible things. Some are permanent like the one you drank and others are temporary. I was going to get you to drink one of the temporary ones, but it’s too late for that.”

“So this potion of yours has changed me how?” inquires Adelina.

“It’s supposed to make the drinker better,” explains Dieter, “Stronger, faster and tougher with faster healing and better senses. I sort of just know what my potions will do in the same way I just sort of know how to make them. Physically, it has made you taller, your hair has grown down to your shoulders, your eyes are now animalistic, maybe cat and your ears and teeth seem to be more pointy now. You also seem a bit more muscular than before though I can’t be sure as might just be your body getting bigger. Oh and you’re clothes look pretty tight.”

Dieter pauses as Adelina takes all this in.

“If anyone asks,” says Dieter, “Just tell them you suddenly became like this. I would much rather keep my powers secret.”

“Don’t worry Dieter,” Adelina reassures him, “I won’t rat you out.”

“It would recommend drinking the rest of the potion,” says Dieter, “You already started drinking so might as well get the full benefits of it and we don’t want anyone else to find it.”

As Dieter recommends, Adelina drinks the rest of the potion in the cola bottle before handing back to Dieter, who stuffs it in her back.

Adelina feels herself changing even further almost straight away. It still burns and hurts, but nowhere near as much as the first time. Adelina can feel her body becoming strong as she grows even bigger. Her clothes tear as her body gets bigger, but her modesty is still maintained. Her senses have definitely improved.

Adelina has never seen the world in such details or smelled the world around her in this manner before. It is glorious.

“Wow,” says Dieter as he gazes at Adelina, “You’re at least two meters tall down and your hair reaches your butt. Ears are definitely pointy and those teeth are fangs. Your eyes look more like cats than those of a human. Those muscles are huge. Most people have to take steroids to get them that big.”

“What about my clothes?” asks Adelina as she sniffs Dieter.

He smells real nice. A particularly attractive smell, but not in a he’s hot manner. More like magnet or a cute baby. The sound of his voice also particularly nice as well now.

“Take my coat is you want,” offers Dieter, “Maybe get a fire blanket or two.”

Adelina takes Dieter’s advice and ties his coat around her waist, covering her rear. After moment’s thought, she also ties her own coat around her waist as well, this time covering the front.

Adelina pauses as she hears Miss Grunewald coming back down the corridor. She can smell her too and Adelina still finds it to be a little weird to be able to do that.

“Miss Grunewald is coming back,” Adelina warns Dieter.

“Damn it,” curses Dieter, “I guess it had to happen soon or later. You wait it hear and I’ll try and explain things to her.”

Dieter goes and leaves the lab as Adelina finds a fire blanket to wrap around her upper body. She can easily hear Dieter trying to explain things to Miss Grunewald with her new senses.

“Adelina changed Miss,” says Dieter.

“How so?” asks Miss Grunewald.

“You know how people have suddenly got peoples,” explains Dieter, “Well Adelina just suddenly got peoples. She about two metres tall, long hair, big muscles, fangs, cat eyes and pointy elf ears.”

“I see,” replies their teacher in a confused tone as she and Dieter reach the lab door.

Miss Grunewald opens the door and steps into the room. She freezes at the sight of Adelina before screaming.

***

Adelina gets annoyed as she has to explain her and Dieter’s version what happened to police again.

First she and Dieter had to explain their version of events to Miss Grunewald, which was that her transformation was sudden and unexpected and they had no idea of what caused it. Then they had to explain what happened to all the other teachers that kept showing up. And once the police arrived, the two of them had to explain what happened to them except the police had a lot more questions than the teachers.

Fortunately for Adelina, no one is treating her like the monster she looks like since it’s clear she’s still the same person on the inside.

But now this Inspector Hartmann is extremely interested in what Adelina has to say.

“So it just happened?” inquires Hartmann, “No idea what caused it?”

“No,” says Adelina somewhat annoyed.

Her voice comes out as growl, but her voice always has a bit of a growl to it now so Hartmann doesn’t seem to notice as he writes something down in his notepad.

“What about your mental state?” asks Hartmann, “Any changes to that?”

“None,” answers Adelina, “I can smell, hear and see things better and my mind can compensate for that, but otherwise no.”

“So not a danger?” asks Hartmann.

“No,” says Adelina, “I supposed I’m bigger and stronger now, but that can’t be helped.”

“That’s true,” agrees Hartmann, “Don’t worry kid, none of us are blaming you for this. None of this seems to be your fault. If anything, you’re the victim.”

“Yeah,” mutters Adelina.

“We called your family and informed them what happened by the way,” Hartmann tells her, “The media has also been alarmed to your transformation so there’s several reporters outside the school with their cameramen. They’re quite eager to meet a person who has powers, especially someone who just got their powers.”

“I don’t to speak with them,” whispers Adelina, “I just want to see my family.”

“I understand,” says Hartmann softly, “We’ll be finished here soon.”

***

Adelina stares out the window of the police van as it takes her home. They tried to take her back in one of the police cars, but Adelina couldn’t comfortably fit in the back of one now so they got a van to take her back instead.

They also provided her with some better clothing to wear, in particular a trench coat that she is wearing as

Dieter is also in the back of van. He asked to be able to stay with Adelina to provide comfort for her. With Adelina’s agreement with the idea, Inspector Hartmann conceded.

“So how do think your mum is going to take it?” asks Dieter.

“I have no idea,” replies Adelina.

With her father and two of her brothers in the military and the third at work, only Adelina’s mother is at home.

Adelina sighs. Her life has been turned upside down. She has no idea whether school is going let her back in or what is going to happen with the authorities as things like these are too new for there to be any hard and fast laws about supers yet.

The only thing Adelina is certain of is that she’ll get some of those anti-super hate groups coming after her. They recently formed and with Adelina being a super with no hope of hiding her identity.

But Dieter will be there for her. Especially since he blames himself for what happened to Adelina. But Adelina doesn’t care as Dieter didn’t mean to turn her into this and he smells, sounds and looks nice. Really nice.

Adelina wonders if that is part of her transformation, that Dieter seems great to her. She’ll have to ask him. Perhaps it’s just unexpected side effect of the potion that Dieter didn’t know about.

Adelina looks over at Dieter before pulling him close. He grunts in surprise as Adelina wraps an arm around him and squeezes him closer to her.

“Any reason for the sudden affection?” asks Dieter.

“Just comfort,” answers Adelina as she holds him against her.

Dieter doesn’t resist and just rests again Adelina’s side for the rest of the journey.

When they arrive at Adelina’s house, in the same village as Dieter’s, there are several reporters waiting in her house in addition to those that followed the police van in their own vehicles.

Adelina quickly marches up to the front door of her home, ignoring the reporters as they ask her questions. Dieter and Inspector Hartmann are following her and while also ask them questions, the reporters don’t seem eager to get in the way of the policeman.

Adelina’s mother opens the door for her and embraces Adelina. Adelina hugs her back before stepping into the house. Dieter comes in after her while Inspector Hartmann waits at the door.

Adelina heads further into the house, away from prying eyes as Dieter continues to follow her. With her enhanced hearing, Adelina can hear Hartmann speaking with her mother.

“Mrs Baehr,” says Inspector Hartmann as he steps into the house and closes the door behind him, “We need to talk about your daughter’s future.”

“Adelina,” says Dieter from behind him, “Can we talk in your attic?”

“Yes,” replies Adelina and she leads him up to the attic of her house.

Adelina can hear Hartmann telling her mother how she might not be allowed back in school or some of the higher up authorities might take Adelina away or try and recruit.

Adelina snarls. If anyone tries to take her away from her family, they’ll need superpowers of their own if they even want to hope they survive in one piece.

“You can hear anyone coming?” says Dieter as they enter the attic, “I don’t want this conversation being overheard.”

“I can,” replies Adelina, “Can I ask you something first?”

“Of course,” says Dieter.

“Ever since I drink the potion,” says Adelina, “You’ve seem great to me. You smell and sound really nice and I got this attraction to you that I can’t describe.”

Adelina blushes and looks away. To her surprise, Dieter is also blushing.

“I kind of forget about that,” replies Dieter, “In all my potions, I made it so everyone who drank my potion would have an unspecified attraction to me. To make sure they would stay loyal and so to stop people using my potions against me. I wasn’t planning to have happened to you. At least not on a permanent potions. In honesty, I was going to have you drink a temporary potion, use the attraction to get you do something stupid and then tease you about it afterward. I’ll try and whip up something later to counter it.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Adelina reassures him, “I don’t mind it.”

“That’s just the attraction talking,” disagrees Dieter, “If I make the counter and you take, you’ll be able to properly decide if you want to continue taking it. But can I talk about my plans? The ones I was making before all of this happened.”

“Okay,” answers Adelina, “I’m curious.”

“Well, since I had my powers and I could use them to give other people powers,” says Dieter, “You know me, I want to become a leader and make the world a better place on a large scale. But I wouldn’t have truly made a different. I wasn’t born into the right place of life. But I was thinking that I can actually make a different now. I can use my personality and charisma to gain followers and use my powers to make them powerful.”

“So what are you planning exactly?” inquire Adelina, “Planning to become a supervillain who wants to take over the country? Maybe the world?”

“Not this country,” replies Dieter, “It doesn’t need saving. I was thinking some war torn, third world country in Africa. Where it would less of a big deal if somebody tried to take over. I mean, we got plenty of groups trying to do that now and nobody big and important is making a serious effort to stop them. And I would be a good guy even if I was a dictator or something. I would care about the people.”

“You would still me a tyrant,” points out Adelina, “And plenty of people would treat you as one.”

“I suppose I would be a tyrant,” admits Dieter, “But the originally, the word just referred to someone who just ruled absolutely, not referring to their character at all.”

“So where do I fit into this?” asks Adelina.

“Originally I was could do persuade you to come along,” answers Dieter, “But now I would like you to be my second in command. I would be the leader and you would be my general.”

He pauses to give Adelina a chance to reply, but she stays silent.

“Well, I been doing some research,” continues Dieter, “And I think that-”

Adelina interrupts Dieter as she pulls him up to her. She’s been meaning to do this for a while now. Funny how all it took was being turned into a monster for it to happen.

Adelina kisses Dieter, a full blown on the lips kiss. They stay like that for a moment before Dieter pulls away.

“Is that the attract-” Dieter starts to asks as he looks up at Adelina, but she cuts him off.

“Maybe,” says Adelina, “I’ve wanted to do that for a while now.”

“So is that a yes?” asks Dieter eagerly.

“Of course,” replies Adelina, baring some of her new fangs.


“That’s great,” says Dieter, “Because I think Nigeria is a pretty good place to start our adventure...”

Sunday 26 July 2015

1.2 Rising Part 9

Guardian searches her foes for the one that took her weapons. She didn’t see which one it was as she was modifying the phones at the time.

And Guardian can’t spot the culprit in the confusion that she has created.

She doesn’t want to press her luck as despite having taken out everybody in the room as Guardian is still horrible outnumbered if even just a few of their number recovers.

She hears a grunt from in front of her and she looks down.

Metal Man is slowly getting to his feet. Despite being vulnerable to electric attacks like the other gangsters, he is almost fully recovered from it.

Guardian goes through the information that she knows about him.

Metal Man said that he got his powers when he was shot. Since he survived that, I doubt my gun will be much against him. Plus Metal Man mentioned that he was tougher and stronger than normal so I assume that is why he has recovered so much faster than the others. Since he is stronger and tougher, I won’t be able to match him in a fair fight even with my exoskeleton.

Metal Man is almost back on his feet when Guardian hurtles over him, pushing him forwards into the ground as she pushes off his back.

Now what voice?

Retreat.

I agree. It is a good idea.

Guardian gives up on trying to retrieve her weapons as even if she could find them, she wouldn’t be able to get to them with Metal Man recovered.

What Guardian does do as she runs for the front door, is drop a few sensors so she can keep track of what is going on here even once she is gone.

Guardian kicks the door open and it breaks under her exoskeleton-enhanced strength. Without even sparing a glance behind her, the superhero runs off into the night.

***

Guardian hesitates as she reaches the basement. Tonight didn’t go well and Guardian came out behind without a doubt. The only upsides that she can think of are that she wasn’t hurt or killed and she was able to set up a basic surveillance system.

She failed to stop any of the gangsters, didn’t get anything this trip and actually lost her best weapons. Guardian is ashamed at how poorly tonight went and is doesn’t want to face Scott’s disappointment in her.

But she is going to have to at some point so that isn’t any point in delaying that time.

Legacy enters the basement and looks around for Scott. He’s sitting at her computer, reading something.

“You’re back a bit earlier than I expected,” says Scott without looking up, “I assume things went well then.”

Legacy hesitates. She feels guilty at Scott assuming her earliness is due to success rather the failure that is the true reason.

“They didn’t,” replies Legacy, “They actually went extremely poorly.”

Scott quickly gets up and turns to inspect Legacy.

“Are you hurt?” demands Scott, “You don’t look like you are, but...”

“I’m physically fine,” answers Legacy, “But I lost my best weapons and didn’t take any of them out.”

“What happened?” Scott asks calmly.

“It started off as usual,” explains Legacy, “But then I was followed as I went to my chosen location. Once I entered the building, it was a trap and their leader, Metal Man, had powers while the rest of them were armed. I was surrounded and outnumbered with no cover or escape.”

“Go on,” says Scott encouragingly as Legacy pauses.

“I waited and turned their phones into traps to electrocute them,” continues Legacy, “I activated them once Metal Man had finished speaking and I escaped from building while they still down. I was unable to retrieve my weapons as Metal Man was recovering too quickly.”

“This Metal Man,” says Scott slowly, “What powers did he have?”

“His skin was metal,” answers Legacy, “He claimed to have gotten them when he was shot and he also said he was tougher and stronger than normal people. He did recover much faster than the other gangsters even though he was still vulnerable to electricity.”

“Let’s focus on what we can do to solve this situation,” Scott tells her, “Can you make more weapons?”

“Easily,” answers Legacy, “Replacing them won’t be a problem.”

“And what about the surveillance system you were going to set up tonight?” asks Scott, “Were you successful in that?”

“Yes I was,” answers Legacy, “That was the only thing that went well tonight. I was even able to leave some sensors at the trap.”

“So let’s check on how well it is working,” suggests Scott soothingly, “So you’re just going to call your sensors sensors?

“That is correct,” replies Legacy, “It is short for surveillance system sensors. I preferred it to any of the other names I can up with.”

“So can you use your control device to access the network on the computer?” inquires Scott, “I know that you can access it with your power, but I would like to see it as well.”

“Okay,” says Legacy as she goes to get the phone size device.

She sits down at the computer as she plugs the control device in while Scott stands behind her.

“Let’s bring up the sensors in the trap building,” suggests Scott and Legacy does as he requested.

They don’t get any good picture as Legacy was in a rush when she placed them, but they do get sound and other data.

“Those people are the police,” explains Scott as the sensors show people in uniform putting the gangsters in restraints, “They uphold the law, but while they are on the same side as you, they are not your friends as you break the law.”

“I understand,” answers Legacy.

“I assume that one is Metal Man,” says Scott as the leader of Lakeside Devils is taken away from a teenage girl.

“I know that girl,” Legacy says suddenly, “I saw her earlier when I was shopping.”

“That’s Alexandria,” Scott tells her, “She is Atlas’ little sister and has the same powers as her brother, but weaker.”

They go silent as they hear Metal Man screaming profanity at Alexandria.

“It was that dumb bitch Guardian!” curses Metal Man as he is taken away.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

1.2 Rising Part 8

The interior walls of the building’s ground floor have all been knocked down and there are several armed gangsters waiting for Guardian. She can count nine in addition to the large brute of a man that Guardian assumes is their leader.

He looks particularly tough with shiny metal skin, extremely large muscles and lacks any bodily hair on him. His clothing consists of a sleeveless white shirt with strains and ragged jeans. Unlike his fellow gangsters, this man has no gun and is completely unarmed.

“So you’re the Guardian,” sneers the metal man, “That superhero bitch who has been giving us so much trouble.”

Guardian thinks though her options as the two men that have been following her enter the building via the same door as Guardian.

I’m surrounded and outgunned. I have no cover and no route of escape. I can’t fight back without getting killed in the opening moments and I have no options. Now what?

Wait.

More advice from the voice. I might as well follow it. It’s not like I have come up with anything better and the voice has yet to give me bad advice.

“Surrender girl if you know what’s good for ya,” says the metal man and Guardian is sure that he is the leader of these gangster.

Guardian slowly draws her two stun-pipes and drops the on the ground.

“Smart girl,” chuckles the metal man, “Looks like we haven’t got a complete idiot, boys.”

Some of the gangsters join in with their leader’s laughing as Guardian tries to figure out how the situation is going to go down.

They know my name and they should also know about my pipe weaponry. I don’t know if they know about the gun that Scott insists I keep on me. I haven’t used it yet there is still the possibility that they don’t. I don’t think they seemed to be interesting in killing me right now, but I have no doubts that will kill me without hesitation.

“What about your other weaponry?” demands the metal man, “Don’t pretend you don’t have anymore.”

Guardian pulls out her pipe-gun and drops that on the floor with the stun-pipes. The gangsters stare at her as if they are expecting her to have more weapons on her.

“I don’t have any more,” Guardian tells them, “Well I do, but I left the rest at my hideout.”

The metal man grunts and orders one of his lackeys to collect the weapons.

Now what voice? I’ve been waiting and I don’t think this is going to go in my favour any time soon.

Phones.

Phones. More advice even if it is a bit unclear on what the voice is suggesting. A win to this fight I hope. I don’t have any phones, but I have noticed that most of my enemies do.

Guardian reaches out with her power, searching for phones. She can find on all of the gangsters. Even their leader.

What could the voice want me to-

“Girl!” yells the metal man, “Pay attention! Perhaps you prefer being called Guardian? Would that get you to pay attention to me?”

“Maybe,” replies Guardian and the metal man grunts in annoyance.

“Do you know who I am?” demands the metal man.

“Metal Man?” suggests Guardian.

Whatever the metal man is going to say, he freezes as he thinks Guardian’s reply over.

“Yeah, I might go with that,” mutters the metal man before speaking up, “I am Metal Man, the leader of the Lakeside Devils!”

Some of the others look uneasy at that declaration. Perhaps they dislike him or the fact he holds that position.

“I got my power when the old boss of our old gang decided to off me,” declares Metal Man, “One of his followers shot me, but I didn’t die. Instead I got my metal skin. Now I am tougher and stronger than any normal person! That was when I decided I wasn’t gonna to let my attempted murder go. After all, I now have real power that doesn’t rely on other people. And soon I will crush my rivals and the police will be helpless to help me. Only Atlas or Alexandria can beat me and I won’t be stupid enough to take them head on.”

While Metal Man has been gloating, Guardian has been going through the phones of the gangsters. She has been using her power to change the phones so they will electrocute the gangsters as a signal from her.

“A shame that you decided to be a hero,” drawls Metal Man, “But at least I have the opportunity to bag my first superhero, first of many I’ll bet.”

He gives Guardian a feral grin just as she finishes altering the phones. Her trap is set and will give her opportunity to turn things around.

Metal Man reaches for Guardian with his beefy fists. She instinctively leans away and sends the signal.

As a limitation of her abilities, Guardian can’t activate all of the modified phones at once.  Instead she had to link them and then used her power to modify one of her sensors to send the signal. With a device capable of sending the signal, Guardian than uses her power on that device to make it send the signal to make the phones electrocute the gangsters.

The men scream around her as electricity pumps through their bodies.

Sunday 19 July 2015

1.2 Rising Part 7

Legacy spends the reminder of the morning and a good portion working on her exosuit until it is finished. She would have skipped lunch, but ended up having a late one at Scott’s insistence.

The exosuit is sleek and easily fits underneath Legacy’s costume or any other clothing for that matter. As long as the clothing isn’t skintight that is. But Legacy has no intention of wearing anything skintight if she can help it.

It boosts her strength, endurance and stamina in addition to her speed, agility and reflexes when it is worn. It doesn’t help her toughness or durability, but it will still give Legacy a clear advantage over her enemies in a physical confrontation.

The power source particularly pleases Legacy as it uses a collection of ElecMag power cells that are placed throughout the exosuit. These cells can be used to power her weapon’s power cells or vice versa.

Since she completed her exosuit, Legacy has been working on the start of her surveillance system, the goggles being put off for another day. The first part is the command device to allow Legacy to control the network from the basement.

She was unsure of whether to make it large and extensive like her custom computer or small and mobile like the phones that she has been stealing from the gangsters. In the end Legacy decided on something small so she could carry it around with her, but at the same time, she made so it could be attached to a computer if needed.

The rest of the network consists of sensors. She hesitates to call them cameras because they track other things then just picture and sound, such as temperature and the composition of the air.  And unlike most manmade things, Legacy’s sensors lack a uniform design other than being small and durable.

There are multiple reasons for this, all pragmatic and practical. First is that she can make more as not trying to make them conform to a single shape allows her to use more of the resources she has at her disposal.

Another advantage is that they’ll be harder for her enemies to find if they do figure out what she is doing as if they find one and figure out what it is, they won’t be able to know what to look for when they search for the others.

A third one is that it means that Legacy can create them in the field and just place them as needed. That will be useful in several situations that she can think of.

And Legacy will be able to field test it tonight. She likes her night missions. Going out with her costume and weapons and fighting the forces of evil feels great.

Puts a real stride in my step to use the expression that Scott suggested.

“Be careful,” Scott warns her as Legacy, “I’m certain the local gangsters are going to be on the local out for you. You’ve done too much damage to them over the past three days to them for the gang to be able to ignore you.”

“I will be vigilant,” replies Legacy as she picks her weapons up, going with her preferred loadout of her pipe-gun, a pair of stun-pipes and the sidearm that Scott insist she carries.

‘Just in case’ is what Scott gives as his reason for his insistence.

“I just worry for you Legacy,” says Scott, “Even if I only met you a mere ten days ago.

“I have my exosuit now,” Legacy reassures him as she heads for the door, “And I’ll begin seeding my surveillance system. I’m being prepared now, not just fighting evil where I find it.”

“Just don’t take unnecessary risks,” replies Scott, “Promises me that.”

“I promise I won’t take any unnecessary risks,” promises Legacy before closing the door behind her.

Guardian makes her way to one of the local gang’s base of operations, something called a ‘crack house’. The gang she has been facing over the last few days is newly formed one after Washdown and Blastout destroyed most of the lakeside areas of the city. They call themselves the Lakeside Devils.

I couldn’t care less what they call themselves, but I suppose I need to know what they are known as if I’m going to spy on them and track their movements and actions.

Guardian drops her surveillance system sensors every now and again, beginning the formation of her spy network. It as she does this, that Guardian notices a couple of men following her.

One of them is in his early twenties while the other appears middle aged and both look like members of the Lakeside Devils. Each of them has a gun, a pistol and SMG respectively.

But they seem content to just follow Guardian and she gives no clue that she has spotted them.

At least I know I’m working into a trap. I hope this doesn’t count as taking an unnecessary risk.

Guardian makes her way to her destination, the two men following her the entire way. She tries the handle on the building’s back door and finds it unlocked.

Definitely a trap.

Guardian enters the room and freezes at what awaits her inside.