Season content notes: violence, injury
The heroes stood in the purple-and-gold glow of the shield that trapped MourningDagger and all his forces. In front of them stood a child who had called out to them moments before. “You gotta come,” the child said again, “Mister needs to talk to ya.”
They all exchanged a look. Who was mister?
“Come on!” the kid said, glancing at a nearby camera, “Don’t want to pick up any eyeballs, ya know?”
The team looked at each other, and Swords said, “I wonder…”
“You think?” Speed squealed.
“Oh!” The kid said suddenly, “He said to tell you ‘the barracks lawyers won’.”
“Yes!” Speed cried. Guns hushed her and told the kid to lead the way. They followed the kid back through the alley. Guns kept her gun in hand, just in case it was a trap. She hung back and took Sword’s hand, spreading her camouflage across them both.
“Wha–” Sword started to ask, but Guns shushed em.
When the kid looked back, she only saw three of the heroes following him. “Where–“
“Don’t worry about it,” Frontman said, “they’ll meet up with us when they’re ready.”
The kid’s face scrunched up in a disturbed expression, but she didn’t argue. After a few turns down backstreets and alleys, they reached a dead-end alley.
Sitting calmly in the corner, head leaning back and eyes closed, was a familiar lean figure still in MourningDagger’s colors.
Heals took a step, about to rush forward, but Frontman grabbed his arm and held him back. “Wait.”
Heals stopped. At least his helmet hid the grin on his face. Maybe Frontman didn’t know for sure, but he knew. The order had worked. Speed bounced at a pace that sent a buzz through the air. All that kept her in place was Frontman’s hand wrapped around Heals’ bicep.
Frontman took two slow steps forward and stopped. The figure opened his eyes and looked at them but made no move to get up. “It is… good… to see you again,” he said.
Frontman nodded. “I’d like to say the same.”
He – the lieutenant – Mentor – gave his usual sardonic smile. “You don’t know if you can trust me. Wise of you.”
Speed stopped bouncing. Heals looked to Frontman. How would they know for sure?
Swords stepped forward, but before she could say anything, Guns dropped her camouflage and stepped up beside Sword. She uttered one single word, attention on the man sitting before them. “FEMA.”
His jaw dropped.
“That’s your government contact. That’s how they’ve been so on the ball in responding to attacks — or they were until you ‘surrendered’ to us.”
The rest of the team stared at her. After a moment, Sword looked back at him. “She’s right, isn’t she? I don’t know how she figured it out, but it adds up.”
He smiled. Not a smirk, an actual smile. “Very good, Guns. Very good indeed.”
“Which means,” Frontman said, “That you’ve been working against MourningDagger the entire time.”
Suddenly, the kid piped up, “He blew up the castle!”
The five exchanged shocked looks.
He smirked. “I took the liberty of relieving them of their armory and exit strategy.”
Frontman turned to the kid, “And who are you?”
“I’m Yolanda,” the kid said. “I found ‘im right after the castle blew up.” She stuck her chest out and propped her hands on her hips. “Figured he needed someone to show him the ropes around here.”
Heals chuckled. “Hello, then, Yolanda. When’s the last time you ate?”
“We scrounged the leftovers behind the bagel place for dinner,” Yolanda said.
“Then here.” He handed her some quick rations from one of his many magical pockets. “Eat.”
Sword nodded. “So what now?”
The man in the corner of the alley looked between Frontman and Heals. “You made me an offer before. Does it still stand?”
The two exchanged a glance, then nodded as one.
“Then my answer is yes, I will be your ‘Mentor.’ ” He stood up for the first time, towering over them. “And my first suggestion is we go somewhere less public.”
Speed stopped bouncing long enough to cheer.
A young voice mumbled, “You’re not going anywhere without me, Mister!” Yolanda quickly swallowed the half-chewed food in her mouth and propped her hands on her hips, her glare daring anyone to argue with her.
Guns shook her head. The kid had guts. “You got an idea where we can go, kid?”
The kid glared back at her. “Don’t you have a hideout or something? What kind of heroes are you anyway?”
“We don’t bring just anyone to our hideout, kid. And while we may have a deal,” she nodded to Mentor, “I don’t expect we’ll be rushing back to that hideout with both of you just yet.”
Frontman nodded. Guns had something of a point. On the other hand, Mentor had ensured he couldn’t give them away when he got that safe house for them. Also, if he was going to be their mentor, he’d need to know where it was sooner than later. If they could teleport anyone else, that is. A mental nudge told him they could if that person was inside the circle they created for the teleport.
Mentor raised an eyebrow at Guns. “At some point, you need to decide to trust me — or not. There can be no halfway if I am to truly help you.”
Sword nodded in agreement, and Speed glared at Guns.
Heals thought for a long moment. “If we’re teleporting,” he said slowly, “why not take them? It’s not like seeing the place will tell them where we are or how to find it again.”
“Too suspicious and not suspicious enough,” Mentor chided. Centuries of keeping his reactions hidden kept him from pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Yolanda’s glare deepened, and she gritted her teeth, arms crossed over her chest. “I don’t know what any of that means.”
Speed chuckled. “It means Guns is not trusting enough and Heals is too trusting. I can take us to a nearby park without being seen. I’m fast enough. There should be some good places to actually discuss this there. Or there’s several abandoned and empty buildings nearby, too.”
Heals checked his helmet’s HUD. It projected several locations as possible ‘safe spots’. He’d never used the feature this way, but he trusted it to work. “The building at 17th and Caldwell looks good.”
Speed nodded and glanced. “I’ve got a clear route there, too. Let’s go, then.” It was time to get out of this alley and away from any ears or eyes.
One by one, Speed picked up her team members, Mentor, and Yolanda, and zipped into the building with them. Running at top speed, the few people on the street didn’t see more than a flash of color as they passed.
The half-collapsed eight-story building looked like it had once been a storefront with offices above it. Three upper floors had collapsed in the initial fighting around MourningDagger’s arrival. The storefront windows had been smashed in. Makeshift window coverings and what looked like lean-tos in the racks indicated several people squatting there, but no one was currently present. That gave the team a private space to talk.
Speed settled into her signature bounce as the team gathered around, and Frontman nodded to Mentor. “This place looks a little more private for now.” He turned to Guns, “He’s right; we either need to trust him fully or not at all.” Even behind the mask, they could tell Guns was scowling. She didn’t like this. It could spell disaster. On the other hand, he had blown MourningDagger’s castle to smoldering bits in places.
Before any other team member could speak, Yolanda scowled. “You still aren’t taking him anywhere without me! Someone’s gotta show him the ropes, and you clearly don’t have enough sense for it.”
While the team stared, Mentor bowed briefly. “I am happy to have your assistance, Miss Yolanda.”
“I told you, no bowing! It makes you look weird.”
He smiled faintly. “Of course.”
Heals spoke up, “Yeah, but some people do bow. It’s like, a cultural thing.”
Yolanda scowled at him but didn’t say anything. For all her bluster, she found the team a little intimidating.
Frontman crouched to meet her at eye level, his voice soothing and calm. “It’s okay. You’re right about bowing around here. It’s different in other places. And we won’t take him anywhere without you, alright?”
Slowly the scowl faded, and Yolanda nodded. Sword tried to cover eir chuckle with a forced cough.
Frontman smiled and stood, facing Mentor. “Now, I won’t speak for everyone,” he looked pointedly at Guns, “But I am willing to trust you. I wouldn’t have kept the deal otherwise.”
Heals nodded. “Same.”
Speed bounced on her toes and nodded. “Me too!”
With a sigh, Guns looked over at Sword and knew from the other’s smile what ey was thinking. “Alright,” Guns said. “I don’t like it, but you’re right. If we don’t at least trust that you are on our side, this won’t work.” She paused. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to trust blindly, but… I’m in.
“Let’s go home.”
Tendrils of acrid smoke continued to filter into the throne room of MourningDagger’s castle. He’d summoned Poniard to report on the whereabouts of his obedient lieutenant. Unfortunately, though, “What do you mean he’s nowhere?”
Poniard swallowed hard. “We have searched the grounds, both physically and magically. There is no sign of the lieutenant.” She winced, forcing her posture straight. “And the teleportation ring appears to have been activated shortly before the explosion.”
MourningDagger’s face contorted in a vicious sneering scowl. “Do you know who activated it?”
“No, mighty one, but most likely it was the lieutenant.” Poniard hesitated. “It would not be the first time he escaped.”
MourningDagger roared and backhanded Poniard. She hit the wall and slumped. “Find him! Find him and bring him to me, so I can rend him limb from limb!”
Poniard nodded hastily and scrambled out of the throne room. She wasn’t about to further test her lord’s temper.
Sorry for the short season. This is where the story insisted it needed to break. We’re going to take a couple of weeks to get our shit together and then we’ll be back with the third and final season of Mighty Hero Force Epsilon.
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