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Chapter ThreeAir Raid didn’t get saddled with a boring medical watch on the new arrival, but Flint’s words at the meeting nearly elicited a groan. “You and I will find our task in the storage room, my young friend. We’ve got plenty of cleaning to do.” While Air Raid didn’t doubt Flint had a purpose for a clean storage shed, he knew that the older Epsilon planned to corner him for a talk. Honestly, though, I expected hours ago. Let the massive stone-head get it over with. Nonetheless, as Air Raid rifled through case after case of old tools, Flint’s first words took him by surprise. Looking across a box of old records, Flint said, “You know she’ll get tired and leave, don’t you?” Air Raid didn’t answer. He couldn’t. What the hell was he talking about? “What?” he said when words returned to him. Flint shook his grayish black head. “No matter how much you might want it to be so, she can never look at you the way you look at her. We are freaks, despite everything we might accomplish, don’t forget it. She’s a gorgeous young woman. Eventually—” Air Raid’s dark stare caused Flint to trail off. “Eventually what?” “Eventually she will realize she doesn’t need some degenerate freak. And that’s when you will her flirting with a norm. Or worse.” Flint shook his head. “End it now, son, while you still can. For both your sake and hers.” “It sounds like you’re speaking from experience.” Flint nodded. “I didn’t leave the school for my under-secretary position. I left because of Athena. Because I couldn’t touch her…” Flint choked up. “Well, let’s just say that the physical incompatibility made our continued happiness impossible.” “Wow,” Air Raid said. He struggled for more words. “I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” “Not a person in this school other than myself, Athena, and now you, do. I thought it important that you know where I’m coming from. That I know what I’m talking about.” “Thanks, I think. And I understand completely. I may be young and even foolish, at least in your eyes, but I love her. I loved her before she lost her powers, and I can’t imagine not loving her.” “But look at her! What are you going to do if she finds some norm or meta?” “It will probably kill me, Flint, if that happens. But you know what? I’m willing to take that chance. I will take every moment I can with Beauty and I will cherish them all. Every last one. That’s what love is all about, isn’t it?” Flint laughed, letting a brimstone scented fog leak from hi mouth. Air Raid’s nose wrinkled at the smell. “Good for you, son. Don’t get me wrong. I think she will break your heart. But I’m glad to see the fire, the passion that drives you. Remember that, no matter what. There may come a day when that’s all you got left.” Air Raid nodded. “Thanks for this. Honestly, I didn’t really want to hear what you had to say before, but, well, I’m glad we could talk.” Flint wadded up a garbage bag and threw it to the younger man. “Your welcome, son. But don’t forget we’ve got plenty of cleaning left to do.” ***** “What is this place?” Rubicon slowly looked over the crumbling brick structure before them. His wrinkled cheeks rose up in a sneer. “It’s a free clinic, my dear Manslayer. The only kind of place our kind could go for health care. Our former kind at least. This is what the norms think will help the degens of the city.” “But why are we here? We don’t have the power to destroy this place now.” Rubicon chuckled. “Manslayer, you have such a one track mind. We are not here to destroy it. I wouldn’t have destroyed it even if I did have powers. No, we are here to see one patient and one doctor.” “Who the hell would we want to see in there?” “A young boy named Negate.” “You mean the little brat who they used to steal our powers? I’ll rip his damn guts out!” “Calm yourself, my friend. I’m beginning to suspect young Negate has far less to do with our power loss than we first thought. After all, the loss was supposed to be permanent.” With strain, Rubicon summoned the lightning between his fingers again. “And obviously, that is not the case.” Manslayer looked confused as she turned back to Rubicon. “But if our powers are going to come back, why even come here?” Rubicon turned back to the door. “Because of her, the dear child’s mother.” Manslayer turned to see a woman in her early forties coming from inside the clinic. Her hair was wet and her clothes damp. She looked as though she had only just emerged from the shower. “Hello again, Moisture,” Rubicon said. “Perhaps you don’t recognize me, but—” “You may look like a human, Rubicon, but I know the kind of monster you are. You will not get past me and you will not do anything to my son!” “My dear woman, I’m not here for your boy. I honestly do not give a damn about your child. No, I am here for you and your special abilities.” “No,” Moisture said. “I won’t help you.” Rubicon laughed. “Yes you will, Moisture. You will provide your services to me. I need my power back and you can give it to me stronger than ever, can’t you.” He gestured towards to the door. “If you would please, ladies first.” “Please, Rubicon, don’t make me. Please.” “Don’t make a scene, Moisture. You will help me, and we both know you have no choice in the matter.” Rubicon turned back to Manslayer. “Please help Moisture inside. And make sure she doesn’t hurt herself.” Manslayer grabbed Moisture by the hand and pulled her back through the doors. Rubicon smiled broadly as he followed them inside. ***** “I think we need to talk.” His body still ached from hours of cleaning, but it all faded away when Air Raid saw Beauty laying in his bed. She looked up from her book, a copy of Flint’s poor-selling autobiography. “What is it, baby? What’s the matter?” “Flint and I talked today. About us.” He shook his head. The words weren’t coming right. “Not about him and me. About me and you.” Beauty’s smile turned to a scowl. “And did that big stupid brick asshole have to say?” “He was worried about us, about our relationship. About how it’s doing. About where we’re going.” “I hope you told him where to stick it.” “No, but I did tell him we’re old enough to make our own decisions.” “Yeah?” “Yeah. I love you. I’ll always love you. I wouldn’t let anything get in the way of that.” Beauty smiled again. Air Raid smiled back. He loved how her face seemed to light up when she grinned. “You always know how to make a girl happy,” she said. She slid to the side of the bed and pulled Air Raid close to her. She ripped his shirt open, sending buttons flying. “And when I’m happy, I’m all about making you happy too.” Beauty pulled Air Raid forward and he tumbled on top of her in the bed. ***** Athena stroked the mocha-colored cheek of the unconscious girl. She suspected the young woman would awaken soon, barring any extenuating circumstances. But instead of relief, Athena felt only anxiety. She knew nothing about this girl, and the longer it took for her to recover, the longer Athena wondered about Flint’s worries. She didn’t know whether the girl was friend or foe, or what problems she might bring with her. She didn’t know if she could even bring herself to trust the new arrival when she did awaken. A few weeks ago, Mindset could have scanned the girl’s mind and given Wave and the rest of the team everything they needed to know. Now without a trained telepath, Athena found herself risking not just herself but the entire school for the sake of this one girl. She shook her head. Every pang of guilt made her question her fitness as headmaster and team leader. A golden mirror materialized in front of her face with the barest push of her mind. She looked in to it and saw the reflection of someone who didn’t belong. How can a metahuman, a so called normal, be the headmaster of a school for Epsilons? I have to be insane to think I can take Wave’s place! A low moan behind her startled Athena. She turned in time to see the girl stir for a moment before the young woman’s eyes shot suddenly open. The girl rolled off the table and stumbled to her feet. She looked up at Athena. “I need to speak to Wave,” she said. “Now. Please.” She stepped forward only to stumble. Athena moved just in time to catch the girl. “Please, you have to get Wave,” the girl said. “He’s our only hope.” ***** Thief watched as the younger students hustled and bustled around the common area. For the first time in days, the students seemed genuinely happy. After only a few days, things seemed to be getting back on track. Many of the students seemed genuinely happy. The period of morning was finally over. Which works out all the better for me. For what I have to do. He took another moment to glance around and make sure no one was paying attention to her. No one at all. He concentrated for a moment and faded from view. On every spectrum of vision, Thief was nowhere to be found. He stepped forward and let himself phase down and in to the floor He had a date with Mainframe. ***** The knock caused Beauty to come instantly awake. She threw on her nightgown and stumbled towards the door. Bobbi Kwok, her roommate and one of the older teenagers in the school cracked the door open and stuck her over-sized, half-bald head in. “Hey Beauty, you and your boy toy better get dressed and decent. The new girl is awake.” Beauty smiled at Bobbi. “Hang on for a moment outside girl. Give me and Raid about five minutes to get up and dressed.” “No prob, but hurry your ass up.” Bobbi closed the door. Beauty could hear her humming from outside the door. Beauty scratched her itchy chest. Her uncoated skin felt funny to her and over the past couple days, she had found herself getting more and more urges to scratch imagined itches. She went back to the bed and shook Air Raid awake. He groaned and rolled his head towards her. His eyes opened only to slits. Beauty smiled as he looked at her. Air Raid groaned again in response. Beauty’s smile turned to a look of concern. “Baby, are you all right?” “Something’s wrong.” Air Raid’s words came out in a rasp. “My skin, it feels like its on fire.” He groaned in pain. “It’s like my flesh is burning.” “Oh, God—” Beauty jumped from the bed and opened the door. “Bobbi, go get Flint now! I think—“ She turned back to Air Raid in the bed, still moaning in pain. “I think my powers are coming back.”
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