Chapter 169

  Alexander touched down on the rooftop, boots settling against weathered concrete. Droney hovered beside him while the other drones spread out along the building’s perimeter.

  He walked to the stairwell access and pulled the door open. The gang was inside. All nine of them, along with three visitors he’d detected from the air. Their signatures remained clustered together on the third floor, positions mostly unchanged from when he’d first sensed them.

  The stairwell was dark and silent.

  He lifted off the ground and floated downward, keeping his movements quiet. His senses tracked the group below. There were no immediate signs of combat. No erratic movement. No panicked sounds.

  He passed the fourth floor. Empty. The gang had claimed the third floor as their territory, fortifying it with whatever they could scavenge. Though, calling it fortified was generous. It was mostly broken furniture and scrap metal forming crude barricades.

  Alexander descended to the third floor.

  Voices filtered down the hallway. He couldn’t make out words yet, but the tone carried disagreement.

  Then someone shouted. “Fuck this. Take these off.”

  Alexander shot forward, rushing down the hallway. His flight carried him around the makeshift barriers without making a sound.

  He stopped in the doorway.

  Three strangers stood on the left side of the room. The one in front was tall with an athletic build, long dreadlocks, and a neat beard. He wore armor that looked handcrafted. Leather base with metal plates riveted across chest and shoulders. Functional work, and well made despite the salvaged aesthetic. His hands were extended, fists clenched, and darkness swirled around them like living smoke.

  Behind him were two others wearing similar armor. One was stocky with reinforced pauldrons. The other was a lean woman with bright pink hair. Both armed with blades still strapped to their waists.

  On the right side of the room, the nine gang members formed a loose semicircle. He quickly recognized Jason in the middle. Zane and Zara. Allie. Bill, the aggressive one. Miguel and Andre, the fight fans. Devon, the scarred gunman. Rosa, who’d been quiet the last time. Each had their hands bound together with rope. They faced the strangers, and Bill stood forward with his bound hands thrust at them.

  The room went still as several people turned to look at Alexander.

  He took in the scene in a fraction of a second. Bound captives. Power on display. The shouting.

  Alexander raised his cybernetic hand. Electrokinesis cycled into his Core then surged down his arm. Energy crackled along its length, capacitors already at full charge, building toward a full-powered blast aimed directly at the Tier 2 threat in the center.

  Jason threw himself between Alexander and the strangers. His bound hands came up in a placating gesture.

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Jason said quickly. “It’s not what it looks like.”

  Alexander hesitated.

  The stranger’s power spread across him like smoke. Darkness swirled over his body in shifting clouds, obscuring his features. His hands came up in a defensive posture as he turned toward Alexander.

  Alexander kept his focus on the three strangers but spoke to Jason. “You sure? Because it looks like you’re being held hostage by some post-apocalyptic period actors.”

  The shadowy figure choked back a laugh.

  Zane moved up beside Jason. “Nah, Trent and them is alright. They’re just showing us how they test for certain powers.”

  Alexander frowned. He thought about that for a moment, wondering if it meant what he suspected. Then he ran his fingers through his hair. “So... I don’t get to kick their asses?”

  Zane laughed.

  Jason smiled, some of the tension finally leaving his shoulders.

  The other man in the group of three reached for his blade and took a step forward. “I’m happy to fuck your shit up, poser.”

  The leader’s hand clamped down on his subordinate’s shoulder. The darkness faded from around him as he squeezed hard enough that the man winced and twisted awkwardly, releasing the blade.

  Alexander raised an eyebrow.

  The leader stepped forward. “I’m Trent. A captain in a new guild we’re forming in the Scar.” He gestured toward the bound gang members. “We were sent to recruit. Got to talking about powers and how we test for them.”

  “I’m Alexander.” He landed, and let his cybernetic hand drop, the excess charge dissipating. “I’d be interested in hearing about your testing methods. But I’m also here to make an offer to them.”

  The two subordinates tensed.

  Trent shrugged. “You can go first. It’s not a problem. We’re not here to start anything. Especially not with a pro.”

  Alexander cocked his head. “What’s your guild called?”

  Trent’s expression turned awkward. He scratched the back of his neck. “We haven’t actually agreed on a name yet. People keep throwing around all sorts of stupid ideas.” He glanced at his subordinate with lighthearted accusation. “Like the Scar Bros.”

  The man’s face reddened.

  Zane cut in. “Alexander’s the Machine God. Leader of Grimnir.”

  The subordinate’s gaze snapped to Zane, then back to Alexander. Blood drained from his face as he took a subtle step back.

  Trent’s eyes widened for just a moment before his expression smoothed.

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  “Shit,” he exhaled. “All the more reason you should go first, man. Like I said, we’re not looking for trouble. Didn’t even know you operated out this way. Thought Grimnir was a West Coast crew.”

  Alexander pushed down his disappointment at the lack of confrontation. “What happens if they don’t want to join your new guild?”

  Trent shrugged. “Nothing. Don’t have plans to push people out or anything. We’re just trying to survive and maybe start our own thing.”

  Alexander studied him. “For now. What about in a month’s time? Five? When you control most of the people in the region except for a few holdouts?”

  Trent’s expression turned wary. “Seriously, man. We’re just a few guys and girls trying to make use of our powers to get shit done. Force some change around here. Look out for our people. None of us have pitched anything like what you’re suggesting.”

  Alexander watched him for a few moments. The man was being sincere.

  “Okay then.” He turned to Jason and the others. “My offer is simple. Grimnir is growing and our operations are expanding. We’re hiring people for all kinds of work. It’s not glamorous, but we’ll cover your accommodations and pay you fairly. I’m talking about legit contracts and perks.”

  Alexander smiled. “And because I know it matters to you, you’ll still have the chance to rub shoulders with supers. Because you’ll be working out of Astra Omnia.”

  The room went dead silent.

  Allie broke it. “You serious? Isn’t Astra Omnia some kind of luxury space resort for supervillains?”

  Zane turned back to look at her. “No, dumbass. Anyone can go there.”

  Allie scowled. “You’re the dumbass. Like your broke ass could afford it.”

  Zane spun all the way around. “You’re just as broke.”

  Zara sided against her brother. “Shut up, Zane. Leave her alone.”

  Jason pinched the bridge of his nose as the three of them devolved into bickering.

  “You’ll really pay us for honest work?” Bill interrupted. “Even if we don’t have any useful skills?”

  Alexander nodded. “As long as you’re reliable, I can find work for any of you. Even if it’s just basic labor or guarding a door.”

  Bill glanced at the others. “Yeah, I’m in.” The words came quickly, almost as if he feared the offer might be withdrawn.

  Miguel spoke up. “Hang on. We should talk about it first.”

  “We already knew we’d be going our own ways once we got powers,” Bill retorted.

  “Most of us don’t have powers yet, though,” Andre argued.

  Jason turned around and raised his hands. The arguing quieted. “Everyone can talk about it, but it’s up to each person what they want to do.”

  After the room settled, Jason looked between Alexander and Trent. “We need to discuss this in private. Can you both wait outside?”

  “Sure,” Alexander said.

  Trent agreed as well.

  Alexander turned to him as they left the room. “Mind if we talk shop while we wait?”

  “Works for me,” Trent said.

  They made their way downstairs and out the front of the building. The two subordinates leaned against the wall. The woman pulled out a pack of cigarettes and took one, then held the pack out to the guy. He took one, held up his finger with a small flame flickering from the tip, and lit both cigarettes.

  Trent cocked his head toward a patchy spot of grass and dirt.

  He followed. “Are you open to sharing the methods you use to help people discover their powers?”

  Trent stared out into the night at the ruined city streets. “Yeah, man. Truth is, it ain’t even our method.”

  He raised an eyebrow. It was subtle, but Trent’s demeanor had shifted. Inside, he’d been careful with his words. Measured. Out here, away from the recruitment pitch, he’d dropped it in favor of a more casual cadence.

  “A few months back, some guys I know met this weird fucking dude. Said he was just passing by.” Trent paused. “I didn’t see him myself, you understand?”

  Alexander nodded.

  Trent continued. “They told me the guy had red skin. Eyes that swallow the light.” He glanced over his shoulder at his two subordinates, who were chatting quietly. “And get this... they said he had fucking horns, man. Like the devil or some shit.”

  “The devil?” he repeated, skeptical.

  “They thought so.” Trent glanced at him. “I know it’s just some dude with a costume or powers, but even now they swear he looked like the real deal. Anyway, so he tells the guys that one of them has powers. They don’t believe him, of course. They been trying to soak up power from the supes fighting in the Scar for months, like all of us, but nobody shown so much as a spark by then.”

  “He identified the one with powers specifically?” he asked rhetorically. “Then taught him how to bring it out?”

  “Yeah. And he says that there’s a lot of tricks. That AEGIS has foolproof methods for most power spheres, whatever that means.” Trent shrugged. “But the simplest way to discover a person’s power is to put them on defense, in a high-stress situation.”

  “Thus the ropes and scary shadowy fists,” Alexander concluded.

  “Well, kinda,” Trent said. “They knew I wasn’t going to hurt them. But even then, when you raise your voice and get in someone’s face, people get hot under the collar.”

  “Fight or flight.”

  “Exactly.”

  Silence fell over them while he considered the idea. His own powers had responded when under duress, which supported the idea.

  AEGIS possessing efficient teaching methods around power discovery didn’t surprise him. Especially when combined with the tech to identify the types of powers being awakened.

  He and Annie would be going on a serum run over the next week or two. It made sense that they should grab as much as they could, not just enough for the crew, but also to cover their needs for the foreseeable future.

  Perhaps, then, it also made sense that they make a run at AEGIS soon.

  If Grimnir could get their hands on information pertaining to power training, and the machines necessary to identify powers during awakening, they’d have an advantage no other guild did. An advantage that wouldn’t be overcome for years.

  Unless Grimnir shared the knowledge with the world. That idea had merit, too.

  “Mind if I ask you something?” Trent asked.

  “Go for it.”

  “Is Grimnir really expanding all the way out here?”

  Alexander grinned. “That’s an understandable assumption, but no. I’m just in town to recruit a lawyer, see the sights, and do some last-minute shopping.”

  “What you need a lawyer for?” Trent chuckled. “Ain’t a snowball’s chance in hell you’d make it to trial.”

  He laughed. “You’re not wrong, but that’s not why we need one. It’s business-related.”

  “Long way to go for a lawyer.”

  “Yeah,” he mused. “I figured this one was worth the effort though. She stood up to AEGIS, did everything right, and they tried to ruin her.”

  Trent turned to him. “You talking about Jazzy?”

  Alexander looked at him in surprise. “You know Jasmine Sharp?”

  “Man, tons of people on both sides of the Scar know Jasmine. Brooklyn. The Bronx. She representing. Had the American dream. Pulled herself up by her bootstraps and all that shit.” Trent scowled. “Then they kicked her back down, first chance they got.”

  “That’s exactly why we extended an offer to her.”

  Trent watched him for a few moments. “You a’ight, Machine God. Especially if you going around looking out for good people like that.”

  Alexander smiled. “I’ve noticed how you spoke inside was a lot more…”

  “Like the hood was beat outta me?” Trent asked, laying it on thick.

  He chuckled. “Not what I was going for, but sure.”

  “Yeah, Ma was a voice coach. Said I needed to learn that shit so I could fit in better when I went looking for a job.” Trent turned back, staring out into the dark. “Before some super asshole melted her and everyone else. I try when I need to do proper work stuff.”

  Alexander nodded in understanding.

  Footsteps drew his attention. He turned toward the building entrance as Jason and the others emerged.

  The split was immediately obvious. Jason stood in the center. To his right were Zane, Zara, Allie, and Bill. To his left stood Devon, Miguel, Andre, and Rosa.

  Four and four.

  Alexander was surprised. He’d been certain most of them would take him up on his offer.

  Jason met his gaze.

  “Everyone’s decided.”

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