Abnormals

Jet entered the warehouse, cautiously. He’d been there as Blaster the night before, stopping an arms deal of some kind, and Jet was going to find as much information as possible.

The place was unsurprisingly scrubbed clean. He could even smell some of the ammonia.

It all served to make the singular wooden sword in the center all the more suspicious.

Jet put on the gloves he wore as Blaster, now woven in with pieces of the Bangkok Elusive to help protect him from more threats. He silently thanked Catherine Piec for the upgrade again.

Carefully, he put his arm around the hilt of the sword and lifted it to eye-level.

He felt something off about it, but had no idea what.

If a sword was weird, there was only one person Jet could think to ask about it, but his phone informed him he had poor reception as he tried to call her.

“Then we ask about you at home.”

His hair stood on end before he could leave the warehouse. He made a large forcefield to go around and force anyone out of hiding, watching the windows for anyone exiting.

He found nothing but shadows.

Jet tossed the sword on the counter before flopping onto the couch. Magma, his roommate Ignotus’ dog/dragon, padded his way over to put his head on Jet’s lap.

Jet kept the gloves on as he petted him, earning some insulation from the furnace now against his leg.

“How’s it going, buddy?”

Magma just snuggled closer. Jet considered it an acceptable answer.

Lost in the process of scritching his companion, Jet startled at the feeling of a phone in his pocket.

Victoria Loch was apparently calling him.

“You know,” Jet said, “I was meaning to call you.”

“Let me guess,” Rex said, “It involves some wooden swords.”

Jet looked over at the counter.

“So I’m not the only one who found one.”

“Not in the slightest,” Rex answered, “We burned ours. TC’s studying one.”

“A bad plan,” Victoria added.

“What did you do with yours?” Rex asked.

Jet stared at it on the counter.

“Brought it home.”

Whatever response Victoria and Rex had was drowned out by Ignotus exiting the shower, steam coming off of him as put on a shirt and pants.

“I have a headache, and I’m in pain.” he dramatically collapsed on the other couch, and Magma padded over to him.

“Can you suffer in a different room?” Jet asked, “I’m in the middle of a phone call.”

Ignotus just groaned. Jet shook his head.

“What did you guys say? My roommate’s being slightly more dramatic than usual.”

“Isn’t your roommate a mage?” Rex asked.

“We’re gathering everyone at the warehouse,” Victoria said, “Tesla Coil is summoning Berserker and Nightingale. I assume we can count on your presence. We need as many free hands as possible.”

“Sure, of course. What’s—”

They hung up.

“Great.”

Ignotus groaned again, and Jet came to look at him. He actually looked bad. Jet didn’t know what to do about it. He looked at the sword again.

“I’ll handle this,” he said before kissing Ignotus on the forehead and grabbing the sword, “Especially if it involves this thing.”

Surprisingly, the only person at the warehouse when Blaster arrived was Tesla Coil.

“Didn’t Tetra and Xer call this meeting?” Blaster asked, “Can’t Tetra teleport?”

Tesla Coil shrugged.

“So you found one of these?” Blaster asked, lifting the sword.

“I don’t think we want that around,” she said as Berserker and Nightingale suddenly appeared. Nightingale held another in the air in front of her, while Berserker was holding a whole box of them.

“You said something about the swords,” he said, “So I grabbed as many as I could.”

Tesla Coil shook her head as she leaned it against her hand.

“I hoped to get more info on this one,” Nightingale pointed at the one in front of her.

With a plume of smoke, Tetra and Xer appeared. She leaned into him as the swords seemed to absorb the wisps of her power.

“Burn those swords,” she ordered.

Berserker dumped his box and Jet tossed his into the pile.

“Shouldn’t we research them or something?” Nightingale asked.

“I have one in my lab,” Tesla Coil assured.

Nightingale took that as enough reassurance and dropped the sword.

Xer blasted the pile with fire, making everyone back away from the heat. Tesla Coil focused her attention above them.

The swords inside the flames quickly turned into a pure black before turning to ash.

“Wood doesn’t usually burn that fast, does it?” Blaster asked, “What temp were you using, Xer?”

“Campfire.”

“So you gave me some idea of what we’re dealing with,” Tesla Coil redirected, “But more context would be nice.”

“Who here knows what a Dark Mage is?” Tetra asked.

Blaster was the only one without a raised hand.

“What the hell?”

“A Dark Mage,” Tetra explained, “Is a former mage now cursed to steal power from real mages. We don’t know what makes them, but they all defer to some master. If that master ranks within their number, then that is likely who we’re dealing with.”

“What?” Nightingale asked, “Since when do these guys come with a hierarchy?”

Tetra made a form of shadow with nebulous features aside from a business suit.

“This was the man handing off these weapons when we interrupted them.”

“And you’re afraid of this guy?” Blaster asked, pointing out the tailored suit.

“If he was in a warehouse full of criminals in only a suit,” Nightingale said, “Then he was confident he didn’t need armor.”

“Or it’s well hidden,” Tesla Coil added.

“He’s an asshole,” Berserker said.

“You know him?” everyone asked in their own variations.

“Yeah,” Berserker said. No amount of prodding, silence, or staring would make him elaborate.

“So what makes you so confident he’s the leader?” Nightingale asked.

“Dark Mages aren’t subtle in their machinations. Though we may not know who they were before, we know them by the names we’ve given them, and their history. There is only one dark mage still alive who could speak of Nox Umbra, and that’s Dark Magek.”

“Dark Magek?” Blaster asked, barely holding back laughter. That couldn’t be the name of a person.

“One doesn’t get named for their power lightly,” Tetra warned, “He is the oldest living Dark Mage because he destroyed the others.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Nightingale asked, “If they’re all bad guys who cause problems, having less of them seems like a solution.”

Despite the helmet blocking her eyes, Tetra’s stare hung heavy.

“Allow me to put it another way,” she took a step toward Nightingale, “He harvested them.”

“Like fruit?” Blaster asked.

“And consumed what power they had accrued for himself. He’s stronger than any others living, and if these swords are as I suspect them to be, he’s no longer satisfied with Mages and Dark Mages, now he wants mortals.”

“Us,” Xer finally commented, “You know how a Mage grabs a Magek item and it changes to match their look most of the time?”

The group nodded.

“These do that—”

“But they sap the energy out of you in the process,” Nightingale said, “That’s why I wasn’t touching mine. So this goes to feed him or whatever?”

“Or possibly his master,” Tetra explained, “We don’t know who Dark Mages serve.”

“But they’re definitely what fucked up my roommate?” Blaster asked.

“Aye,” Tetra said, “Mages seem more sensitive to the absorption. Just being in the room with so many of them is exhausting, but you all don’t seem to feel anything if you don’t touch them.”

“So we’re your human shields,” Nightingale said, “Because I can’t imagine the force meant to stop Mages from abusing power doesn’t have a plan in place for these guys.”

Tetra slightly twisted her hand, and a sword appeared.

“This can kill him.”

“Kill?” Tesla Coil asked, “We’re killing this guy?”

“Yeah,” Xer said, “I didn’t sign up for that.”

“Did you get a different lecture than the rest of us?” Nightingale said, “This guy’s going after everyone now. These are wooden swords, how long do you think it’ll take before they hit retail shelves?”

Xer and Tesla Coil didn’t answer.

“I think I need to talk to someone about this,” Berserker said, disappearing from the room.

“I don’t think keeping this guy alive is a good idea either,” Blaster admitted.

“And why are we the people to decide that?” Tesla Coil asked.

“Not to agree with Tesla Coil,” Xer said, “But we’re just six assholes who decided to be superheroes, whatever those reasons might be. We’re not above everyone else.”

“But we’re above killing?” Tetra asked, “Letting a Dark Mage live, especially this one, just because we’re squeamish, could have terrible consequences, and we’re the ones equipped to stop him.”

“You’re the one equipped,” Tesla Coil said, “I agree that this is a problem, but that doesn’t mean murder is the solution.”

“I think it’s closer to execution,” Nightingale said.

“That’s not better,” Tesla Coil said.

“Electron wouldn’t do this,” Xer said, pointedly staring at Blaster. Blaster took a step back.

“To hell with Electron,” Tetra and Nightingale said.

“He’s not here,” Nightingale continued, “And if he’s alive, he’s a coward who left. Either way, his opinions aren’t relevant.”

“Once you guys figure this out,” Blaster said, well aware this conversation was out of his pay grade, “Let me know. I have a roommate to make sure I didn’t accidentally kill with one of these things.”

They continued their combat of ethics as Blaster left hearing-range.

Ignotus looked practically rosy by the time Jet returned.

“You look mad, are you mad?” Ignotus asked as Jet opened the door.

“I need to do a free article,” Jet grumbled.

As a freelance reporter, Jet didn’t get paid nearly enough to have a life, especially when his sources were all unverified and anonymous. When the public needed to know something for safety reasons, Jet published for free.

“What’s the PSA about this time?” Ignotus asked, “Or is it going to be a conspiracy theory?”

“It’s confirmed by Tetra, but it’s wooden swords that become other weapons, and also drain peoples energy, especially if that person is a mage whose idiot roommate left one on the counter.”

Ignotus placed a hand on Jet’s before he could open his laptop.

“I have to help her kill this guy,” Jet admitted.

Ignotus pulled his hand off.

“Who?”

“Tetra.”

“Who does she need to kill?”

“Someone dangerous.”

“On what authority?” Ignotus asked.

“He made those swords,” Jet explained, “Or at least he’s distributing them, and one of them hurt you. It’s why you weren’t feeling great a few hours ago.”

Ignotus watched him with pitying eyes.

“Not to mention, if Tetra’s this freaked out, there’s good reason. She’s among the most powerful mages there are.”

“You don’t like hurting people,” Ignotus said.

“He hurt you.”

“But I’m better.”

Ignotus pulled Jet’s gaze over to him.

“I won’t claim to know if this man should die or not, but I know you aren’t a killer. Don’t make this choice lightly.”

Jet held pulled Ignotus’ hand away by the wrist before pulling it to his lips.

“I am not making this choice lightly.”