Abnormals

“So kid, what got you in the game?”

Jet still couldn’t believe it. Electron and Elemaster were in his apartment, having a beer with him. Was he a little disappointed Electron was still a white guy under the armor? Yes, but he still seemed alright.

“Uhh…”

“Well I’m not a kid,” Elemaster—Rex—said, “But I genuinely was in the middle of a bank robbery, and luckily they had real plants instead of the fake ones, so I was able to capture the guys and be done. Turns out I just liked saving people.”

They gave a cheers motion.

“Party at my mom’s got held up trying to get a ransom out of my grandfather.” Electron said, “I put on the suit of armor I knew was somewhere in the building, and flew around magnetizing everyone’s guns to it. I probably got more jewelry in the process than the perps did.”

“What happened to the suit?” Jet was not squandering this chance by ignoring all his questions.

“I have it up in my house. Catherine—my wife—”

“You’re kind of well known, Dr. Gionelli. I know who your wife is.”

“Well Catherine isn’t an uncommon name, and please, call me Pete. Anyways, Catherine thinks it’s funny to move it around the house to freak me out.”

Electron—Pete—gave Jet a nod to tell his story.

“It’s kind of a boring story,” Jet admitted, “I was inspired by you when I was a kid, and wanted to do something about the world not being great, not to mention what the superhero movement is doing for superhuman rights movements. You—We’ve—de-bogey-manned superhumans in the public eye by serving the greater good.”

“Greater good’s a big term for what we do,” Rex said.

“I’m still stuck on him saying he was inspired by me as a kid.” Pete focused on his beer. “Am I really that old?”

“You’re going to be a dad soon.”

“Not yet, though.”

“Well I was closer to a teenager,” Jet disclaimed, “and I’m 22 next week.”

The other two doubled over.

“Nope,” Rex said, “ignoring it.”

“I was what, two years older than you? When did I start?” Pete asked.

“News reports mentioned an Electroknight at Grace Johnson’s party seven years ago,” Jet answered.

“Two years older when I started,” Pete concluded, “I’m 31 now.”

“You would have been 23, then,” Rex corrected, “It was a New Year’s party, and your birthday isn’t that early.”

“Right, and when I met Cate a few months later, she wasn’t 21 yet.”

“You met your wife in the same year you became Electron?”

“That’s why the suit improved so quickly.”

“Catherine Piec made the Electron suit?”

Pete’s eyes went wide as he realized what he’d said.

“Think you can keep a secret, reporter?” Rex asked.

“You asked me that after taking your masks off in my apartment?”

“So the guy you know, and the woman whose identity you think you know, seem to hate each other?” Ignotus, Jet’s roommate asked. Ignotus had a somewhat darker skin-tone than Jet, and an accent that sounded like English mixed with Greek, but mostly English.

“And you say you don’t get any of this superhero stuff.”

“I don’t. Magma and I are happy to stay in and watch the movie we rented and have to return in only a few days.” Ignotus scratched his Great Dane behind the ears. It was sometimes hard to remember that thing was secretly a weird fire dragon.

“I’m sorry to miss it, but I kind of want to save the world with these people.”

“How dare you abandon me!” Ignotus moaned.

“You were never this dramatic when we lived downstairs from Victoria Loch.”

“You aren’t even saving the world. It’s just a cult, like you said. What harm has a cult ever done to the world?”

Jet took a moment to just stare.

“Oh fine, all of that, but you’re missing out on a very cool action film.”

A knock on the door interrupted any of Jet’s disagreements on that subject. He and Ignotus silently argued about who had to answer it, but Jet lost it by already being up.

“Did you have some kind of appointment with Victoria Loch?”

“No. We said we should meet for tea sometime when we were moving, and it never happened. Maybe she’s decided to change things.”

Victoria was a Englishwoman and Ignotus’ fellow Mage Artist. She seemed to pervasively wear a hoodie with paint stains unless she was going somewhere formal. Then she transformed from a complete mess to a elegant lady from some fairy tale retelling, even sounding a little more formal to complete it.

“How did you know where we lived, Ms. Loch?” Jet asked as he opened the door.

“A need to ask a favor of ye.”

Jet closed the door on her.

“Is Victoria Loch Scottish?”

“Her surname is literally the Scottish word for lake.”

“Yeah but she’s English.”

“I’ve spent enough time in England to know that’s not an English accent, that’s a Celt trying to sound English.”

“But you didn’t know which Celt.”

“I could take a stab in the dark and hit a bullseye by knowing her last fucking name.”

Jet rolled his eyes and opened the door.

“So is the favor from me or Ignotus?”

“Ignotus still lives with ye?”

“He needs the company, and I need help with the rent,” Ignotus yelled from the couch, “Not all of us have a family history of wealth on both worlds.”

“It’s not all family,” Victoria muttered.

“He’s just—ignore him. What do you need?”

“I need to speak privately with ye, if ye would allow.”

“Uh, let me grab my bag first, then sure, where do you need to talk?”

Ignotus feet made a thunk as they hit the floor.

“I can leave for a minute, I could use the fresh air.”

He gave Jet a kiss on the cheek, and Jet unconsciously scritched Magma as they left. Victoria gave a knowing look.

“Mediterraneans,” Jet excused, “Affectionate, you know?”

Victoria nodded.

“Last I heard, he wasn’t raised around humans.”

“Well that’s not completely true, but it’s like, mostly true.” assuming Ignotus was to be believed.

“May I come in?”

Jet invited her, entering the room again himself.

“It’s not very large for two people.”

“We’re a reporter, and a mildly above starving artist. Rent’s only going up. What did you need?”

“How are your persuasive skills?”

Jet shrugged.

“I’m still mostly freelance, and not completely by choice.”

Victoria made an angry click with her tongue.

“But once you get to know me,” Jet said, “I’ve been told I’m easy to talk to.”

She looked unconvinced.

“Who do you want me to persuade about something?”

“I need you to persuade Rex to work with Tesla Coil.”

He knew Rex was close with Victoria, even assumed they were dating more than once before being corrected. He’d also assumed Victoria to be in the dark about superheroics in the entire building, and it occurred to him why she came to him for this.

“So you know…”

“I know who’s running out of their windows in my apartment building, especially from the apartment directly under my preferred balcony.”

Preferred balcony. How could someone sound out of touch while telling you they know your secret?

“And you never mentioned it?”

“Of course not. I don’t need a reporter digging up my shite because I need to let him know I know a secret of his.”

That was his go-to plan if someone tried to blackmail him with his secret identity. He hadn’t had to implement it yet, but it was there.

“So why bring this up now?”

“Because Electron was his friend—”

“I know.”

“And it would be good for him to fight some cultists desecrating his best friend’s name.”

“He just tells you everything, doesn’t he?”

“Ha!”

Victoria’s eyes turned a little brighter as the shadow behind her turned into another Victoria.

Shadow. Duplicate. Jet was an idiot.

“He doesn’t need to tell you.”

The Victorias nodded, and returned to just the one.

“But why can’t you persuade him?”

“Victoria doesn’t get it. Tesla Coil’s out of her depth, and more importantly, needs Electron’s name as a leg up because she’s apparently not good enough on her own.”

“That was not my impression,” Jet said, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume she was doing this longer than I have, and she didn’t appear on the scene until, like, last year. And are you seriously trying to tell me you weren’t out of your depth in your first year?”

“If she’s going to flaunt a symbol like that, she can’t be.”

“And she isn’t.”

“She spent a whole fight focusing on just one person.”

“Like you’ve never been targeted as someone’s nemesis. She was helping civilians before the fight started and realized the Great Chosen was laser focused on her.”

She even called about back-up as she was heading up to fight him.

Rex leaned back at least.

“Great Chosen?”

“It’s what the cult leader calls himself. He seems to have an obsession with Tesla Coil. When I fought the speedster in the grocery store, that’s who they were after.”

“So they’re ‘targeting’ her?”

Jet didn’t like those air quotes.

“Seems like it. I’m surprised you didn’t see the same treatment.”

“Exactly. How do we know she isn’t working with them? She’s clearly obsessed with Electron.”

“Obsessed is pushing it. She speaks of him fondly though, like she actually knew him, and maybe this is her way of continuing his legacy. I mean if you can’t get something done right…”

“Most people speak fondly of him. Victoria never even had a real conversation with the guy, and she speaks fondly of him.”

That’s hard to argue against. Why did Rex care so much?

“Who even made you the arbiter of Electron’s legacy? Shouldn’t that go to his wife? His wife who I know is working with Tesla Coil, meaning she has her blessing, if Catherine Piec isn’t Tesla Coil herself.”

“I’ve heard that rumor, that Catherine gave her approval, and I don’t trust Catherine’s judgment.”

“That still doesn’t give you the right to pick and choose how people deserve to honor Electron’s memory. Is it that you feel guilty that you don’t think you’re worthy of carrying his symbol to represent him when other people do?”

Something behind Jet got very hot. One of the plants in the apartment had gone up in flames. At least he was finally getting to him.

“There are people who are absolutely unworthy of his symbol and anything to do with him,” Jet continued, “And you refuse to help stop them, because someone also trying to stop them may not be worthy even though all her actions thus far point to a desire to help people.”

Rex shook his head, but the heat from the burning plant died down.

“Maybe we should at least talk before I refuse to work with her.”

“Thank you.”

This small warehouse had become a decent base of operations, though Blaster couldn’t help but notice the dust all around, like nobody had actually been here in years, and Tesla Coil hadn’t bothered to clean. They sat in a group of mismatched chairs, some of which looked very new, and some that seemed to have decayed along with the influx of dust.

“Thank you all for coming,” Tesla Coil said, looking at Xer. She sat in possibly the oldest looking chair. Blaster sat in the other one, so he knew it couldn’t be comfortable.

“This clearly isn’t a one-man job,” Xer said, “What’s going on here?” He gestured at the maps on the table next to everyone.

“Nightingale had a vision,” Coil said.

“Let me explain,” Nightingale held a hand out before anyone could ask any questions. “When I read Quinton’s mind,”

“Who’s Quinton?” Xer asked.

“He’s the fire mage Tetra and I fought. Anyways, when I was wiping Quinton’s mind of my secret identity,” she held a hand up as Jet was opening his mouth, “I was physically removed from him, which led to a lot of psychic feedback. I don’t know how much he learned about me, if he’s even conscious, because most non-telepaths are going to go into solid catatonia from that. I do, however, know his name, obviously, and through a series of headaches got some idea of where they seem to be basing themselves. Coil and I narrowed it down to three warehouses, but since this is still an active connection…”

“Expect them to see us coming,” Xer said.

“As there are three locations,” Tesla Coil said, “We’ll be dividing into teams of two, maintaining communication through these.” She gestured at some earpieces. “Just tap it with your finger, and it creates an open forum as long as someone is holding the button.”

“Doesn’t seem that fancy.”

“It isn’t, but it’ll do for now. Teams are: Xer and Tetra, as partners you’ll be best suited to handle being two on whatever hoard they have; Nightingale and I have worked together before, and more importantly I can single people out for her to handle; Blaster and Berserker, You have the least experience with each other, but Berserker can handle a room full of people while Blaster keeps him from killing them.”

“I don’t kill people, that was a nasty rumor.”

“Because of that time people found you in a room full of corpses,” Nightingale corrected.

“Which I was acquitted of because I didn’t do it.”

“You plead the fifth!”

“Any objections?” Coil asked.

Blaster raised his hand.

“This isn’t high school, but yes, Blaster.”

“I don’t want to be with Berserker.”

“Name a person better suited to handle him in the room.”

Blaster looked throughout the room. He was the only person with a strong enough forcefield to hold Berserker.

“Fine.”

Xer turned to Nightingale.

“Let’s switch.”

“What?” Tesla Coil asked.

“I understand arranging for partners, but you’re the team without a powerhouse while Tetra and I have two. I’ll go with you because Tetra has experience with Nightingale.”

He was serious about the conversation thing.

“Fine.”

Tesla Coil refocused on the map.

“We’ll be entering at the same time to get as close to the element of surprise that we can, and make sure they aren’t sending reinforcements to any of the others. Are we ready?”

Berserker locked arms with Blaster.

“Ready!”

Everyone else gave a nod.

“Find your location. Tetra, you’ll go to the one labeled as you and Xer, Xer you’ll go with me to the one I set for Nightingale and I.”

It was difficult to focus on guiding a forcefield to a certain location when Berserker refused to shut up.

“Alyssa wanted to know how you were when I mentioned you were in our little team-up.”

Alyssa Daybury, Berserker’s closest confidant. Jet had interviewed her about Berserker when the trial was happening. Then he saved her life, and she told him Berserker would never forgive him. Did Berserker just have no idea about it, or had Alyssa just been joking? She’d been sullen about everything until the kidnapping incident too.

“She remembers me?”

“She remembers everyone who ‘saves’ her life.” Again with the air quotes.

“I’m okay, I guess. I’m teamed up with you.”

Berserker laughed.

“Do you think I killed those people?” he asked.

“Honestly, no.” Alyssa had been very genuine, even complained about Berserker far longer than Jet had published, but she insisted on his innocence in the matter. She’d even sent him a card months later thanking him because the article helped Berserker in the court of public opinion. Personally, he wasn’t convinced it actually did that much.

Berserker put his arm around Blaster’s shoulders. “Then you’d be thinking right. I’m many things, mostly a problem, but I’m not a murderer.”

Blaster could definitely see the problem part. Berserker didn’t talk about anything even mildly substantial the rest of the time, still with his arm around Blaster, occasionally talking right into his ear. Blaster had to stay still to keep the forcefield from disappearing and plummeting the two of them to their deaths, no matter how tempting.

“We’re here.” Blaster said after escaping Berserker in the landing.

“Team Sword and Stick landed immediately,” Nightingale said, “Thank you, shadow teleporting.”

“Team Tree and Tech are at the location,” Tesla Coil said, voice clearly altered.

“Let’s go.” Xer said.

Berserker didn’t need to be told twice. He jumped through one of the closed skylights, making a large shattering sound.

“What was that?” Tetra asked.

“We’re going!” Blaster surrounded himself in a forcefield and jumped through the same skylight.

When he landed, Berserker had already handled most of the guys.

“How did you manage that so fast?” And where was he for that matter?

Berserker suddenly appeared in front of him.

“Same reason I’ve managed to be here while still sleeping in Arizona.”

Teleportation. Why hadn’t he noticed before?

Because Berserker’s powers changed from moment to moment.

“And some help from you.”

Berserker held out his hand, and a wave of “Whoa” hit the wall behind Blaster.

“You stole my forcefields.”

“I copied them. They’re a little different than what I’m used to, but I can make it work.”

He was really just superfluous now. So much for saving the world. The best he did was talk Xer into joining.

Without thinking, he placed a forcefield in front of Berserker, and an old friend ran into it. Berserker stepped back as Blaster finished building the forcefield cage around the speedster from before.

“Good to see you again.”

The speedster ran into each of the invisible walls, manically trying to force it open.

“You aren’t getting out of there any time soon.”

“Can’t you see what’s happening?” they asked.

“No, actually, I can’t. Enlighten me.”

Berserker was pushing his face up to the forcefield, making faces behind the speedster’s back.

“Your allies aren’t safe.”

“Why are you telling me?” This sudden change of heart had to be a trick, if it even was a change of heart and not just an attempt at escape.

The speedster pulled their hood off, revealing a white girl who looked younger than Blaster with short dark hair. She was panting.

“Because I didn’t think he would kill people.”

“Kill?” Berserker asked, suddenly serious.

“You only came across your leader being willing to kill people now, and not when you broke giant windows in a grocery store causing major injuries, or when he had a bridge almost broken?”

“There’s a difference between reasonable sacrifices and intentional murder.”

“Is there?” Blaster and Berserker asked simultaneously.

“Just tell your friends the Great Chosen wants them dead.”

“All of them?” Berserker asked, “Like were we just the unimportant ones, because that’s racist.”

“You’re white,” Blaster said.

“Jewish.”

“The first and most chosen,” the speedster revealed, “Elemaster and Tesla Coil.”

For just a split second, Blaster dropped his concentration. The Speedster was gone.

“Uh, Tesla Coil, your team-up is in danger,” Nightingale said. What had she learned?

No response.

“I know you’re probably fighting right now, but one of you can respond!”

Nightingale sounded more concerned than Blaster was, and Blaster could hear his heartbeat right now.

“Anyone who’s free should join us at our location,” Tetra said.

Tetra and Nightingale weren’t kidding, not that Blaster thought they were.

The wall was covered in photos. Photos of Grace Johnson, Catherine Piec—especially with her kid—,Tesla Coil, Xer, even the rest of them sporadically.

“What are they looking for?” Blaster asked.

“Sacrifices,” Berserker said, “Sacrifices that fell right into this trap.”

“I should have made him stay with me,” Tetra said.

“Sacrifices for what?” Nightingale asked, “What would Electron want sacrifices for?”

“They want to bring him back,” Blaster said, “All of these were tests to figure out who they thought would be the best for it. They settled on Xer and Tesla Coil.”

Nightingale closed her eyes and concentrated.

“The connection to Quinton is gone. They used it as bait.”

Several photos of Catherine Piec fell to the floor.

“Can you find the other two?” Blaster asked.

Nightingale shook her head.

“They must have some power suppression around, or force-fed them anti-psychotics somehow.”

Nightingale looked up and smiled.

“But there’s one thing that can still track Tesla Coil.”

“Camera!” Nightingale yelled into the ether of their original warehouse, “Are you in here?”

Blaster tried to remember where he’d heard the name Camera before.

“What is it, Nightingale?” a woman’s voice asked. It reminded Blaster of an old film.

“Tesla Coil, can you find her?”

“Tesla Coil’s accoutrements have been deactivated.”

“That doesn’t seem great…” Blaster watched Tetra muttering things under her breath.

“It is not typically a good sign, no.” the computer confirmed.

“Where were they deactivated?” Nightingale asked.

“Multiple locations. I’ve already attempted to assess a pattern, but the locations seem mostly unconnected.”

“Do you have a screen where you can show us?”

Some old and thick looking screens buzzed as they each slowly showed a map with red dots of locations. Blaster, Berserker, and Nightingale each took one.

“Can you add times?” Blaster asked.

Squiggles appeared.

“What does that say?” He turned to Nightingale.

“Oh, sorry,” Camera said, “I’m not used to this resolution anymore.”

The timestamps increased in size until just readable. She was right that the locations didn’t make sense with the time.

“The breadcrumbs aren’t working,” Nightingale sang under her breath, “Unless…”

“Teleporter.” The three of them said together.

“Tetra, bring the map over,” Nightingale ordered.

“I’m trying to use a tracking spell.”

“Well it’s not working, so bring the map over.”

They all pointed out the final location on the map.

“Of fucking course,” Nightingale said.