The Heroes' Guild

“I appreciate the sentiment, Ms. Coil,” Electron said, “But the costumes are to make people panic less, not to fight anyone.”

“That’s exactly why I want your involvement,” she said simply, “This latest disaster wasn’t the first and won’t be the last. We can’t always ensure that nothing goes wrong, so I need insurance.”

“Us?” Function asked.

“Your tactics, your team work. I want you involved in making sure there’s enough training to go around by the next disaster.”

“There’s plenty of disaster trainers around.”

“Not for superhumans, not for superheroes. We need to share knowledge and resources if we want to make a decent impact on the world.”

“Lofty ideals,” Electron said, “But what’s the practicals?”

“An NGO is being formed from the ground up, focused on keeping heroes informed and in check. We need more than just vigilantes if we want it to actually serve its purpose. You’re the first part of that.”

“So we train a bunch of superheroes, and you…?”

“We share resources and knowledge.” Tesla Coil reiterated, “And your team gets a seat at any meetings to determine the direction of the Guild.”

Sparkle was silently polling the group. She was persuaded despite not being able to read Coil’s mind. Force and Function wanted to be involved the moment they stepped in the tent. It was up to Electron.

“You still haven’t given details.”

“I don’t have many yet,” she admitted, “You’re still dealing with the rubble of the incident that started all this. I can tell you my allies in the Abnormals have all agreed to join, along with the Elementals and that girl band that saved a dragon.”

“The Radi8s?” Force squealed.

“Their participation isn’t going to be public. Neither will yours if you don’t want it to be.”

He could make his name more well known than the dead guy who shared it, assuming this came to anything, and they’d have more superhumans prepared to actually save people, not just fight threats.

This was a win. He had to accept that.

“We’re in, we’ll join your vigilante company.”

“Actually, we were going to call it a Heroes’ Guild.”

“That’s the pitch,” Skylar said, watching Mirsham’s expression for any response, “Keeping the world safe by helping each other when called.”

“And you’re extending this offer to the entire guard?”

“You, Lyra, and Roy, yes.”

Mirsham stroked his chin.

“I think the guard would gladly join, but it’s not completely our call. Our Regina Imperiata probably won’t grant permission.”

“And you can’t persuade her?”

“I expended most of my good will on granting you all use of our waters, and will have to expend more to help the Guild, but you know you are always welcome to engage my services.”

Skylar shrugged.

“It was a longshot anyways, but we wanted to extend the invitation to everyone involved, and Tesla Coil mentioned a rescue team.”

“So you’re joining this Heroes’ Guild?”

“Yes.”

“Do your families know?”

“They don’t need to know,” Skylar squeaked, then sighed, before admitting, “Tessa knows, and I’ll tell my father when next I see him. That’s everyone else’s plan with their parents as well.”

“What about your mother?”

“I don’t have a mother.”

Mirsham looked disappointed.

“She’ll find out eventually,” Skylar relented, “But she has no authority either way.”

“My concern wasn’t for you, Ember Phoenix.”

Of course it wasn’t. Even banished to another world, Mirsham remained loyal to Mineria’s royal family.

“Let me know when you have your answer. I’ll relay your uncertainty to the rest of the guild in the meantime.”

“Thank you, Perth!” Brit said to their crowd, “It’s an honor to sing for you, and it’s an even greater honor to invite to the stage: The Blah Guard!”

Bela handed off her drum sticks again as the Radi8s moved backstage.

Someone clapped in the darkness. Bree put a hand on Brit’s shoulder to make her glow.

They recognized the trench coat and weird hair, still on guard.

“Where were you on the save the world mission?” Bela asked.

“I’m just as surprised to be here,” Berserker said, “And I was helping in my own way.”

Brit doubted that, but she couldn’t justify a fight with a member of the Abnormals.

“I just came to give you this.”

He handed a small card to the girls, black on one side with a stylized name and a website that didn’t seem to exist when Bela tried to reach the url on her phone.

“What’s the Heroes’ Guild?” Bree asked, but Berserker was already gone.

On the blank side, they saw a phone number labeled, “Tesla Coil Hotline.”

“Guess we need to make a call.”

Val laughed.

“Of course not. I’ve been part of an army before. I won’t join another, no matter how altruistic.”

“If you need us, you can call us.” Viktorya answered, “I won’t be a speed-dial oracle for an indeterminate number of superheroes.”

Jon nodded in agreement with both their sentiments.

“Not surprised,” Nightingale said. It felt odd to speak with Hunters while in costume, but she had to as she turned to the two incredibly normal looking people conferring on the other side of the room.

“You can tell we’re not typical superhumans,” Wisteria said carefully, “And we don’t think it’s our call to make things public.”

“It’s going to be someone’s,” Viktorya said, “Why not yours?”

“Professor Hunter has my cousin’s info if we’re ever really needed,” Johnny said, ignoring her, “But we’ll remain in the shadows a little longer.”

Nightingale nodded.

“We shouldn’t be hard to contact if you change your mind, any of you.”

“I can join!” El piped up.

Nightingale sighed.

“If this works, then someday we’d love to have you, but there’s legal hassle to having minors involved.”

El pouted, but thankfully seemed to accept the facts, even if Mandie hid some things from her.

“They almost killed Singe,” Lotus objected.

“And she would have been right to,” Singe said, “I’d rather die with my soul intact and insurance I won’t hurt anyone.”

Lotus scoffed.

“She only gave you a chance because Nightingale stopped her.”

“That’s exactly why this is the right call,” Skylar said, “All this happened because we hesitated, because we thought we could handle the problem, but they couldn’t handle it either.”

“So because we could save the world together, we ought to be constantly on call.”

“We already are,” Evia said, “Now they’re on call for us.”

“And having some mortal resources that aren’t from Syren would be useful,” Skylar added, “Tesla Coil mentioned getting us all cellphones.”

“A mirror will do.”

“A cellphone works in an anti-magek circle,” Singe countered.

“No one but Tetra had to help,” Evia said, “They wanted to help, like we do.”

Lotus looked around.

“Very well, we’ll join, but I would remain on guard.”

“Thank you,” Evia said before leaving the room to tend the garden.

“I’m going to sulk in my room,” Lotus said, “Let me know if we ever change our plans.”

Skylar leaned against Singe, clenching his hand intertwined with hers.

“I am grateful you saved me,” Singe said, “I like being alive.”

“I couldn’t lose you,” she admitted, “I can’t lose you,” she insisted.

“I could never leave you,” Singe said, “Not as far as I have control over it.”

He didn’t have control over it, not fully. At any point, either of them could be called to Magek and left to rot.

She couldn’t lose him.

“Marry me,” she suggested, as if it was that simple.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t regret it?” he asked, laying a tiny kiss on her temple.

“Would you?”

Singe let go of her hand, causing a moment of panic until she saw him take his family heirloom off his neck and hand it to her.

“I gave this to you once, and you returned it,” he said, “So when your father offered me a favor in return for saving your sister’s wedding, I asked for permission to ask you a second time, when the time was right. I guess I waited too long.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She turned to smack him in the chest, then smacked him again for good measure.

“I couldn’t risk being rejected a second time.”

“You thought I would reject you?”

“If you thought our marriage would harm me in some way, yes, you would.”

He was right, which made Skylar scowl, which made him laugh.

He pushed her fingers around the pendant.

“As long as you keep that, we’re engaged. Once you give me a necklace yourself, we’re married.”

“Just like that?” Skylar asked.

“Just like that. There’s usually a celebration, and I assume we need to do a Phoenician ceremony.”

“I suppose that’s two pieces of news to tell my father,” she said as she put the pendant around her neck, “Let’s hope he’s happy about at least one of them.”

Singe grabbed her from behind, pulling her into his lap.

“I’m going to be very obvious about this.”

She leaned back into him.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You understand my criticism,” Nox, the Light Master, explained, “Working with this team risked the Knight of Six Kingdoms becoming a dark mage.”

“We stopped a dark mage with minimal casualties,” Tetra explained again, “And we would have the Ember Phoenix on call for future disinfection purposes.”

“You were definitely raised on Earth,” Shield, the All Master chided, “Who would dare call on such an important being for busy work?”

“That attitude is exactly why the Elementals waited to ask for my help. They assumed I’d try to stop them.”

“We can’t remain isolated anymore,” Evil said, “Our status is known, and in this age of superheroes, mortal allies are necessary.”

“Mortals like the Admoni Oracle’s cursed sister-in-law who shot the Knight of Six Kingdoms?” Sparky, the Air Master, asked.

“Exactly like her,” Evil assured, guaranteeing a debate loss, “She had a valuable perspective and excellent aim. Without her, we’d be dealing with another loss.”

“The Elementals agreed to join, along with the band that saved a dragon.”

“Of course you’d support musicians,” Freeze the Ice Master said.

If she didn’t wield Excalibur, she would have been gone a long time ago, but instead she had to deal with the honor of racist jeers.

“Tetra’s fought two Dark Mages with these allies of hers,” Nox unexpectedly defended, “She makes a point that they increase her efficacy at the very least. The least we can do, and it would be wise to do the least in matters of mortal affairs, is to not stand in the way of those who wish to join her.”

“Thank you, Light Master.”

She wouldn’t get any better out of this conservative lot.

Most of the group dispersed, but Nox walked closer to her.

“As you will be in the company of mages, please remain careful, Victoria.”

This had nothing to do with her duties as master.

“It is a shame you won’t be joining us, Percy.”

Nox scowled as he left, and Evil joined beside her.

“I fear I bungled that for us.”

“They bungled it themselves,” she assured him.

“Sparky insisted on listing every reason to be uncomfortable with Val, as if that didn’t all serve to make her more interesting.”

“A woman you’re on a first name basis with and consider interesting? Brendan, you’ll start rumors.”

“You know better than to spread them. Any charm I find from Ms. Hunter is not charming enough to break old habits, and I make a point of not being alone with anyone who would shoot me.”

Victoria laughed.

“Will you be joining?” she asked.

“Of course, diversity won the day, and I prefer doing my job well over any tradition. You will do the same, I assume.”

“Obviously. I started the trend.”

Brendan sighed.

“They shall leave us eventually. Keep an eye out for new blood.”

“Oh,” Tetra articulated her fingers absentmindedly, “I may have some ideas.”

The Abnormals, The Elementals, The Radi8s, and Electron’s Rescue Crew, which needed a more succinct name, sat around a table. A drone also watched from its perch on Tesla Coil’s shoulder, and Evil took a seat next to Tetra.

“I kind of expected a round table, to be honest,” Electron noted, “Equality and all that.”

“A rectangle’s easier to increase its size,” Tesla Coil revealed, “Though we shouldn’t have this many at the table again for awhile.”

“And why is that, O great leader?” Bree asked.

“I’m not the leader,” Tesla Coil said, “No one will be completely in charge. I’m the only xenologist currently recruited, so any questions about powers come to me, Wizard Sylvan is an expert in wizardry, Electron will take charge of any rescue operations, and you are who I would ask first in matters of radiation.”

“But like, you’re in charge.”

“If anything the Voice of Reason is in charge,” Xer said, “They’re the one taking care of info and calling anyone who might be useful to others’ efforts.”

“And they are?”

Tesla Coil gestured to the drone.

“Unable to accompany us directly.”

“I will not share any more information than necessary between you all unless told otherwise by the person whose information is being discussed.”

The voice sounded robotic.

“Wasn’t the Voice of Reason the other Electron’s partner?” Electron asked, “I thought they left with him.”

“I’m a different Voice of Reason,” the drone explained, “But I learned from the original.”

“Are we allowed to know your identity?” Evil asked.

“We’d prefer to keep identifying information to personal discretion,” Nightingale said, “Though if you’re willing to share, we were interested in DNA samples.”

“Saliva or hair,” Tesla Coil specified, “It’ll be easier to deal with any sudden increases or decreases in power if we know what your DNA is like at a baseline.”

“And how likely is that to happen?” Snow Syren asked with translation from Wizard Sylvan.

“I’m a rare case of a quaternary empowered,” Tesla Coil explained, “Nightingale and Xer are both tertiary. Empowereds typically don’t go further than three mutations, but primary and secondary empowereds have a chance to mutate further under great duress. This involves a radical change in DNA, and having your previous DNA on file lets us know if you’ve mutated and need practice.

“We’re entering dangerous situations, people, with more lives than our own on the line. Diligence is key.”

“So mages are exempt?” Brit asked.

“It’s possible to lose one’s Magek,” the Ember Phoenix revealed, “Rare, but possible. This would probably come with a change in DNA as well.”

“It might make it harder to frame us for a crime if we can prove any DNA left by a lookalike wasn’t ours,” Black Dragon added.

“We’ll think about it,” Sparkle said.

“Any further questions about logistics?”

“We gonna get a cooler hideout?” Bree looked at the unfurnished warehouse around them.

“I’m planning to find people willing to host meetings and hide resources in less public areas,” Tesla Coil explained, “Though we might meet incognito between now and then.”

“You said you don’t suspect we’ll have as many people here again, why?” Electron asked.

“One representative from each team. Rotate it out, keep the group small, share updates and important news. The Guild will go public eventually, but that doesn’t mean we want the public to know everything.”

The room seemed to agree with that sentiment, quieting down.

“Anything else?” Berserker asked.

People shook their heads.

“Dismissed!” He fanned out a hand, everyone watched him like they weren’t sure he could actually dismiss them.

“I’ll contact the teams in advance to determine representatives and meeting location,” the Voice of Reason said, “See you then.”

Slowly, the teams and individual shuffled out, until the Abnormals had the space again.

“Is our little conscience truly up to the task of wrangling all these heroes?” Tetra asked.

“Well…” Coil offered a liar’s smile, “He’s not doing it alone. Camera will usually be the one on duty, and I’ll involve myself remotely when neither of them can handle it.”

“Is it fair for us to know that and no one else?” Xer asked.

“Fair? No,” Nightingale answered, “But if we want the numbers to actually make this work, we’ll be taking in people we shouldn’t trust. The Voice of Reason’s identity is a need to know scenario.”

“Because we’re putting a child on the line?” Blaster noted.

“I’m smart!” Harold argued.

“A child, possibly the most powerful computer on the planet, and me,” Tesla Coil said, “There’s a lot on the line if people find out I’m involved after I just said no leaders. You probably shouldn’t have said it was in charge, Rex.”

“Sorry.”

They finally let the weight of everything settle.

“It’s a new era,” Nightingale said.

“No,” Tetra said, “This has been the age of heroes for a long time. We’re just catching up.”