The thrum of helicopter blades cut thick lines through my gray matter, irritating me on repeat. A hazy memory, coated in sludge, emerged from the depths. It reminded me of the first day I met Roxy. Of her house lowering beside mine as I squirmed from the injuries I'd received being under Boss' thumb.

I murmured something to the super in the present day and replied to the devil in question.

//Gunquake: Here I was hoping you'd forgotten. //Boss: It's a lot to ask of you. My sins are my own to resolve. //Boss: Unfortunately, the strings of fate are tightly wound around both our necks. //Boss: Answer my plea for help, or suffer later down the road. //Gunquake: And I thought we could get through this without threats. //Gunquake: My team is meeting now. Give me 30 minutes. //Boss: I'm on the edge of my seat.

I closed down the messages and sighed. Standing beside me, Roxy had her arms crossed and a concerned look on her face.

[We have half an hour to provide him with an answer.]

She nodded. "You already know, though?"

Of course. In some ways, I had already decided by not killing him as soon as he showed up at her parents' house. If Maestro had taught me anything, it was that I shouldn't let the painful past set traps for my future self. I resented Boss for what he put me through, even if it saved my life and turned me into what I was now. It had worked out long term, but he didn't have that right - being my creator or not.

The only reason I hadn't given him my acceptance was that I'd be dragging the rest of the Disasters into my family drama. Naturally, they'd probably follow me whatever I decided. Eventually, an army aimed toward Goldarch would become their problem even if they sat idle now. I just couldn't help but feel guilty laboring them all with another calamity after we'd endured so many back to back.

"Maybe this is what being a hero is truly about," Roxy broke the silence, able to see the turmoil rolling around in my skull. A pretty accurate stab. "We just put up with ridiculous bullshit that nobody else will deal with, and receive little thanks."

She had a point. After being granted two weeks of holiday as a reward for saving the city, we had immediately filled that time with extensive training, tech fabrication, and grand larceny.

[Just knowing the people of the city are safe is the only thanks I need.]

Roxy pretended to retch. "Save it for the press conferences, kiss-ass. Let's grab chairs for the others."

I followed her back to the prefab to do just that. The dining table was a little too wide to get through the doorway, and after some arguing over whether or not Roxy could safely lift the room up slightly so that we could move the furniture, we decided that chairs alone would have to do. By the time we had created a small circle, Roy was the first to arrive.

He was also dressed rather casually, ready for training in a simpler version of his usual armor suit. As the cloud of dust included in his arrival washed past us, he gave us a grin. "What's all the glum faces for? Aren't we ready to have some fun?"

"Roy," Clara said, narrowing her eyes. "Did you forget the parasol?"

"Ah, shit. Sorry. Let me go get it, will only take a couple of minutes." With a sheepish nod of apology, he saluted us and then turned and sped off. A second wave of light dirt blew past us.

"If it were anyone else, I would have said not to bother," the techie continued, focusing on her laptop again.

I watched the speedster leave, but turned my attention to the helicopter. Now that it was closer, I could clearly see it was Ren's. Both the elf and Belle had other ways of traveling, but seemed to default to the vehicle when available. Anticipating more dust blowing across our position, I went to stand inside the prefab unit and pretend I was looking for something.

The brief peace and dimmer light gave my brain a chance to cool off.

//Dubs: Do you have a way to track the incoming messages from Boss? //Clara: No. The encryption he is using is even beyond our standard protocol. //Clara: It cannot be denied that he knows how to keep himself safe.

At the start, I assumed he was running a secretive organization of other Agents for hire. Knowing I was the only one, I could only take a guess that he spent a lot of his free time planning for the future. Gaining trusted allies and the tech to evade the World Government. Money and connections were a superpower of their own.

I ran the kitchen sink and splashed cool water onto my balaclava. Although I was used to fighting in the warm outskirts, I had a feeling this was going to be a long day. The helicopter landed, and I waited until the rotors slowed before stepping back out of the prefab.

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Ren was also in gym-wear, which was odd for her. I couldn't even recall a time that she wasn't in business-casual if not her supersuit. Belle, on the other hand, still had the cowboy hat and poncho, although had shorts and comfortable shoes on rather than her full-on mix of themed clothing.

She stepped over to me with a grin while the elf sorted her luggage from the back of the heli. "Howdy, Dubs."

I shook my head and sighed.

[It never ends, does it?]

"Remember how I was when you first met me?" She lifted the brim of her hat and gave the other two a nod.

[Evangelical and condescending.]

"One of the… stipulations of my magical prowess is that I have to lean into things like this." The pink-haired woman clicked her tongue. "He likes it when I'm a method actor, and a happy patron is a powerful caster."

[If it's any consolation, this version is a lot more palatable than the high-priest one.]

She shot me a wink and went over to greet Roxy. Of course, I'd probably seen the real her more than most. Back when my presence muted her connection to Him. The gunslinger apparel was a little on the nose, but I had a feeling this was less of an act and more something she truly enjoyed.

I walked over to the helicopter to help Ren with her bags. Behind her, the artifact bow hovered in the air idly.

[You seem pretty prepared, with whatever all this is.]

She turned and placed a black box in my arms. "I am at a slight disadvantage, Dubs. Outside of this hero work, I have a business I partially run, and a relationship to keep on the rails." Her piercing blue eyes narrowed. "Not that any of that is your burden or concern. I just have to be more efficient in this training time."

[Understood. If efficiency is your aim, then you should talk with-]

"Clara, yes. We've already put together a rota and several targets for me to aim for." Ren gave me a dry smile and brushed some loose blonde hair behind a long ear. "Literally and metaphorically."

I nodded and didn't press any further. Beyond what she was telling me, I knew she'd be called on by the League often when it came to building our new base. With how seriously she was taking her growth lately, it sounded like the time pressure made her feel even further behind the rest of us.

After moving a handful of boxes over beside our building, the job was done. Just in time to avoid any of the responsibility, Roy arrived for the second time. Now with the promised parasol for the techie.

"This is actually a second one," he announced as he strode through the cloud of sand he had created. "Broke the first when it opened up as I was running."

"I am grateful all the same," Clara said. She pointed to where she wanted it placed in the ground.

[Alright, everyone gather around and take a chair.]

"Speech?" Belle asked.

I ignored her wry smile and shook my head. The silence was enough of a response to tell them that I was being serious right now. Other than Clara, who remained at her desk, and me, who was standing, the rest of the Natural Disasters sat in a circle. I took a deep breath, even though it had no bearing on getting my words out through my vocalizer.

[We have a lot to get through, so I'll start with something important. Boss wants to know if we're allying with him against The Gov as they attempt to clone an army of my brother to invade Goldarch.]

There was a moment of awkward silence. Perhaps I laid it on a little too thick.

"You all know what this is about," Roxy said. "Quick show of hands, who is in?"

I gestured for them to proceed.

Everyone raised their hand.

[Oh. I didn't expect this to be so unanimous so soon.]

Roxy rolled her eyes. "You're a great leader, babe, but you forget you have an experienced second-in-command. We've had a few discussions about this, and we understand the risks and inevitable fuckery coming our way if we sign up for the mad Doctor's bullshit."

"I happen to be partial to fuckery," Roy added, before getting a few glares from the others.

[What can I say? Thank you all… I, uh, don't even know how this will affect us in the short term.]

"Go find out." The super stood and put her hand on my arm. "I'll get everyone warmed up."

I gave her a nod of thanks. She had a way of cooling my nerves when it counted. It was foolish to view myself as the main character, just dragging along those in my proximity toward whatever cause was important to me. They were willing participants. Or, Roxy had threatened them with force if they stepped out of line.

Either way, my eyes went up to my lens as she drew the team to the side.

//Gunquake: I have my answer. //Gunquake: We will help you stop the Gov and their plans with my brother. //Boss: Of course, I knew you'd make the sensible decision. //Boss: Would I be correct in thinking that I should provide information straight to Miss Clara? //Gunquake: Correct. //Boss: Excellent. Tell her to expect a document in the next few days. //Boss: To show you how much I appreciate your trust, I have something for you too... //Boss: It will arrive when needed. All in good time. //Boss: Tell Miss Belle the cowboy hat is running away.

I switched my messages off and looked over at her. Pink hair on display, she had taken her hat off sometime before speaking with Roxy. I continued to turn, my mood sinking further. The cowboy hat rolled across the ground away from the prefab, carried by a slight breeze that had knocked it off Ren's cases.

//Gunquake: Is spying on us necessary? //Your message cannot be delivered to this recipient//

I rubbed the side of my head before pulling my balaclava off. After adjusting my goggles' strap, I glared out at our surroundings. There was nothing for miles. Even the sky was totally clear. Trust was a two-way street, and he was making it difficult. The sooner we could get our new base, the better.

Not that I didn't expect the League to bug it. Clara would sweep it for anything untoward, I was sure. Being in the outskirts was my idea, knowing the risks. Pros and cons compared to a hotel. Ultimately, it was a risk I was willing to take, because… this was freedom.

I rotated my cybernetic shoulder to limber up and walked over to the techie. Belle ran after her hat after realizing it was making a move. Roxy had started making balls of cooled lava, probably to throw so Ren could shoot them. Roy was… either extremely constipated or trying to force his breakthrough as he stood in place, fists clenched.

"How did it go?" Clara asked, turning from the screen to look up at me.

[Annoyingly vague and slightly threatening. Par for the course. He'll be sending you information soon.]

She nodded. "Good. Now that's over, how about I show you some of the new ideas I have for how you can get more powerful, Gunquake?"

I was all ears.

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