Heroes Lost and Found (34 page)

Dykovski stopped and crossed his arms. His upper lip twisted upwards as he waited.

I knew what he wanted.

I knew what I had to do.

I shook Hunter’s arm off and stepped forward, through the line. “I know what I am. I am a superhero.”

I swept my arm around the circle, taking in the others.

“That’s what I am, that’s what they are, that’s what Harris is. That’s what Kit Masters was before you fucked him up with your abuse. And that’s what we’ll be when you’re locked in a jail cell begging for your porn magazines to keep you company.”

“You think you’re better than me?” His voice rose as I turned around, spinning away from him. “You think you’re that much better than me?”

“Yes. That much better.” I paused for a second, feeling an impish smile break free.

Hunter glanced at me and took a measured step back.

Everyone else followed suit.

I spun and stormed forward. My right elbow flew up just as Mike had taught me, smashing into Dykovski’s face.

Dykovski staggered backwards in shock. His hands covered his nose, blood spurting out from between his fingers.

“Not perfect, but still better.” My left foot flew forward and nailed him in the balls.

He squeaked as his hands flew southward, the broken nose forgotten for a brief second.

All of the Agency men, the firemen, Steve, Peter and Hunter winced as one. A few hands moved casually to cover their own family jewels.

Dykovski fell over and curled up in a fetal position. His hands fluttered as if he wasn’t sure where to put them.

“With some character flaws.” I pointed my right palm at him and shot him with a light charge, all I could muster at the moment. He shuddered and fell unconscious, blood streaming from his nose as he clasped his groin. “But still better than you.”

Steve chuckled and said in a stage whisper, “See, that’s what you get when you piss off a woman. To be specific, that woman.” He winked at Hunter. “You taking notes?”

Hunter grinned. “Hell, why do you think I let her be on top?”

I stepped back and allowed the Agency suits to move in.

“Dang that felt good.” I winked at Rachael, who hid her laugh behind one hand. “Now let’s go see Harris.”

Outrager intercepted me as I strode towards the bus, his grey ponytail lying limp against the stained suit jacket.

“Jo,” he said in a high-pitched tone caused by the broken nose, struggling to sound authoritative.

I put up my hand, trying not to laugh. “Shut up. Put that shot in the highlight reel and don’t forget to cut us a check. I’ll tell David to be expecting the deposit slip.” The rest of the team moved up beside me. Hunter’s hand landed on the small of my back, steadying me.

Outrager tried again. “Jo, I just…” He paused, caught between trying to play the tough Agency man used to talking down to supers and the Agency liaison he was supposed to be. I saw him struggle with trying to find the right words to either apologize or try to intimidate us.

I wasn’t going to give him the chance.

“No. We’re done here.” I sliced the air with one hand. “We’re going to see Harris at the hospital, after which we’re taking a long, lengthy road trip back to Toronto. Then I’ll decide whether I want to even see your ugly mug again or try to train another Agency flunky to tell us what we need, when we need it.” I locked eyes with him, spotting the fear. “Be glad Hunter got to you before I did.” I glanced over to where Dykovski lay.

He took a step back, his hands twitching.

“Road trip?” Rachael’s eyes lit up.

“Road trip. We’re going to relax and enjoy the next few days. Hell, maybe we’ll go to Disneyland. I’ve always wanted to try that teacup ride.” I tried to laugh and ended up coughing instead, my lungs aching with the effort.

“But you can’t…you can’t just drive off into the sunset.” Outrager’s gaze darted to Hunter in a weak appeal of Agency to Guardian.

Hunter gave him a sharp look and a jerk of his head. His hand moved around my waist in a possessive way I sort of liked.

“Watch us.” I led the team to the bus.

“I wouldn’t get in her way.” Hunter shrugged as he passed Outrager. “Especially when she needs to be fed.”

Rachael giggled as Peter hopped up the steps and turned back, offering his hand in a gallant motion. She took it and accompanied him up. Steve grinned as he shook hands with a few more firefighters before following. Hunter stood by my side with a wide smile bordering on an insubordinate smirk.

“But what if we need you for something?” Outrager tried again, not brave enough to stand between me and the steps.

“You can reach us. I suggest you try not to unless it’s a save-the-world emergency.” I nodded to Hunter, and we moved up into the bus. I watched Outrager’s jaw drop open before the door slid shut with a loud hiss, cutting him out of our lives for the time being.

Bill looked up from his newspaper. One hand pushed the cap back on his head as he studied the two of us. “You ready to go?” he drawled.

“Yep. Hospital first, please.” I paused. “Bill, you ever want to go to Disneyland?”

He scratched his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Dunno. Went with my kids once, wasn’t all that great.” He beamed. “I wouldn’t mind seeing the Grand Canyon.”

The newspaper, neatly folded, went down beside his seat as the engine roared to life. He grinned. “Maybe go along Route 66, see the sights. Stop at every little memorial along the way. What do you think about that?”

I laughed. “We can do that.” I waved at Outrager as the bus lurched forward. “Hell, we’re superheroes, the Protectors. We can do anything we want.”

Epilogue

I was in Niagara Falls, standing in the penthouse’s living room. It looked the same as I’d left it a few months ago. The television remote sat on the table where Mike had put it down. My half-finished math puzzle book was on the edge of the sofa, flipped over with the pencil nearby. A small hand weight from Mike’s collection lay on the floor, still easy to trip over.

A thin layer of dust covered everything, from the couch to the counters to the coffee table. I walked through the rooms, my footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor.

I’d brought a duffle bag with me, but it hung on my shoulder, empty. There was nothing here for me to take, nothing left of Surf.

Now there was just Jo Tanis.

And she was a damn fine superhero.

The bedroom was my last stop.

I sat on the edge of the mattress. My outfits hung in the closet, but I didn’t want them. I didn’t need them.

Hunter stood in the doorway. His gaze darted around the room as if he expected Mike to charge out and challenge him at any second.

“Everyone’s in the bus, waiting to go to the casino. Harris is already whining about missing the stage show.” He studied my face. “You good?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” I gave the room one last sweep and got up. “Let’s get going.”

“Sure.” He chewed on his lower lip. “Jo, if you want to move back here, I’m…”

“My home is in Toronto. Our home is in Toronto.” I crossed the room and kissed him, a light peck to tide us over for the moment. “Let’s go break the bank. And then take the Protectors home.”

“Until we have to save the world again?” he joked, taking the empty duffle bag from me.

“Yep.” I paused at the front door. I expected some ghosts to chase me out, some feelings of sadness, but there was nothing.

Surf might have lived here with Metal Mike, but they were both gone.

Sensing my mood, Hunter stepped into the hallway and towards the elevator, leaving me alone.

“Thanks for everything, Mike,” I whispered to the empty apartment. “I won’t forget you. Just don’t have too good a time down in New Orleans. I’d hate to have to come roust your ass with some Ghostbusters.”

I turned away, letting the door close behind me.

Hunter waited by the elevator. His face was a mixture of confusion, elation and fear.

My stomach sank.

“What?” I rushed forward. “What’s wrong?”

He pointed down.

I followed his gaze.

The wristband lay on the plush carpet, unlocked.

“I…I didn’t do anything,” Hunter stammered. “I mean, I came out here and I went to push the button and I heard this click and, and…” He drew a ragged breath. “It’s gone.”

“Yes.” I bent over and picked up the inert device. “Yes, it is.”

“Outrager?” Hunter whispered. “Think he did it?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care.” I tucked it into the duffle and slung it over my shoulder. “Consider it a partial payment for all the hard work we’ve done.”

“Okay.” Hunter smiled and jabbed at the arrow-down button. “Change of subject. What do you think about going international?”

“What?”

“Outrager sent me an email. Seems there’s a bit of a problem across the pond, as you Canucks would say. Remember, they lost all their Alphas as well.”

“And what do they want us to do?”

“An international superhero team tour, for one. Do the public-relations thing and on the side seek out new talent and perhaps help organize another team.” His eyes twinkled with laughter, a new lightness in his features as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his soul. “Like a franchise.”

“A franchise.” I rolled my eyes but said nothing, letting the ideas bang and crash into each other until one fought its way to the surface.

The elevator doors opened. Hunter stepped in and turned around, offering his hand. “Your thoughts?”

My heart started racing at the idea of going overseas and meeting the challenge. Finding new supers, helping the freed ones find their places in society. Doing what heroes do, what we do.

“I can see it in your eyes.” He chuckled. “You want to go, don’t you?”

“Such is the life of a superhero.” I sighed as my arms went around him. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to see London from the top of Big Ben.”

“Anything else you’d like to do at the top of Big Ben?” Hunter raised one eyebrow with a smirk.

“Maybe. But work before play.” A shiver went up my spine, a delicious thrill at the unknown future ahead of us.

“It might be dangerous.” Hunter hummed along with the canned music. He dipped down, pressing a kiss into my hair. “God knows what we’d face over there. Might make Dykovski and Lamarr look mild.”

“Could be.” I tapped the lobby button behind him. “Their version of the Agency had different rules, different ways of keeping supers under control.”

“And your thoughts are…”

I stepped back and flexed my arm, striking a Rosie the Riveter pose. “Bring it on.”

“Now that’s the Jo I know and love.” He laughed. “The bad guys better run for cover ’cause the Protectors are on the move.”

The doors slid shut.

“It never stops, does it?” I took his hand and held it tight. “The fun and the danger.”

“Can’t have one without the other.” Hunter turned and faced me, taking my other hand. He lifted it to his mouth and skimmed the skin. “But say the word and we’ll disappear, go away from it all. Let the world save itself.”

“You’re not serious.”

“No one would blame you, Jo.” He locked eyes with me. “If you want to vanish, we can do it. Go underground like all those other supers, find a nice little home somewhere in a small town like Kensington Grove.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “Maybe open up a used bookstore.”

I pressed my lips together, weighing the offer. “Not yet. Maybe one day, but there’s a lot of work left to be done.”

He nodded, giving me a playful wink. “A few more days at the back of the bus won’t hurt.”

“Don’t get used to it. I know David said something about putting in my own private bedroom downstairs, but I can promise you it won’t be soundproofed.” I pointed at the ceiling. “Or impact proofed.”

The elevator doors slid open.

“Hey, I’m a healthy young man.” He squeezed my hand. “And I have to keep an eye on those bruises, make sure they’re healing. David’ll kill me if I return you to Toronto in any condition other than fully rested and satisfied.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So the best way to do that is to keep me naked and fed in bed?”

He shrugged. “Can’t fault my technique.”

I stopped and rose on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Hasn’t failed you yet.”

We walked into the empty lobby. Through the glass doors I spotted Peter and Rachael laughing as she tried to keep pace with a hawk. He stood in the driveway as the pair rushed around the bus and around him, pumping his fist in the air as Rachael overtook the bird for the final lap.

She giggled as she landed at his side and hugged him. The hawk set down on Peter’s shoulder, giving the pair a cold, steady eye.

Steve and Harris sat on the steps of the bus with cans of beer in their hands and laughing at each other’s dirty jokes.

Harris ran one hand over the new growth on his face, the eyebrows starting to cover the worst of the burn scars. He looked like he’d spent too much time on the beach staring into the sun.