Super Sales on Super Heroes 6 -Ch 12-

Chapter 12 - City Sights City Lights -

The massive service elevator dinged and the doors opened in front of them.

“Tribune, forward and secure,” ordered Myriad. “Andrea, hold, then build the base camp.”

All ten Warden suits stomped and clumped forward in unison.

Felix couldn’t help but look at them as they went. Originally they’d been more akin to a heavy exo-skeleton that covered the wearer like armor.

Now they were more similar to a mechanical robot. The interior would hold a pilot still, but it would be much smaller in comparison to the suit.

“From battlesuit to battleframe,” remarked Felix as the three wardens with large shields and rifles moved out first. Followed by two wardens with overly-large and frightening looking rifles.

“They look like something out of a bunch of animated things,” Lily remarked from beside him. “Was never that interesting to me, but it did have a large following. We had a couple people pitch marketing ideas at us but we just didn’t see a reason to go in that direction.”

Felix paused at her words, his thoughts coming to a stop. He contemplated what she’d said then looked at her fully.

“What about your lives back in the other world?” he asked curiously.

“Hm? Oh. We’re working to liquidate our assets and convert it to gold. Then transport it to the world you’re currently on. There’s no reason for us to remain in that world whatsoever. We didn’t really make friends either. Too many questions and things,” Lily explained with a shake of her head. “Kit’s going to go through some agencies and figure out who she can bribe for us to get fast-tracked to citizenship. Then get us all set up.

“It’s nice having a best friend who’s a mind reader. Makes everything else really simple and easy. Though having a fight with them is kind of annoying. They’re already bringing up arguments against why you’re angry before you voice it.”

Chuckling, Felix couldn’t even begin to imagine how Lily and Kit had co-existed together. Except he suddenly didn’t find it that far fetched.

“Kit and Lily on this world are also friends. They’re running the guild of Heroes together. Your counterpart isn’t quite as… bent… as you were,” Felix offered up politely.

The Wardens weaponry sounded off. Crackling booms of energy weapons being utilized and the hissing liquid noises of coming into contact with things.

Right now Felix was in an armored enclosure that’d been put up inside of the service elevator. Just to make sure that nothing happened to anyone as Tribune did her work.

“I heard. I was rather amused to find out,” admitted Lily with a laugh. “I’d be that she got her powers just as I did, but when it came time to power up… she took the road less traveled and persevered. I took the… easy road.

“Put a lot of bodies behind me on that road. Quite a lot of bodies. Just… yeah. I’ll admit I’m a little envious of that Lily. Wish I’d made the choices they did. I imagine their life was much harder at the start than mine was, but their current is easier.”

“The other Lily is almost identical to you,” Felix remarked bitterly. “Far too playful, and… and just you.”

“Or how I was, at least,” Lily countered, turning to look at him. “I’m not who she is, anymore. I’m a different person now entirely.”

“I don’t know about that,” Felix murmured, peering out past the protection.

The Wardens were moving forward and leveling a mob of zombies that were heading their way. All of the fire they were laying down was quite literally obliterating them. Tearing them apart and mulching them.

Undead body parts and goop spraying all about.

“Man, that’s going to be annoying to try and bring them all back. I won’t even know who belongs to what,” complained Felix. “I’m going to just… have to use my power in a wide range like I did for the building. Rather than sorting out people, just look at the mass, and ask ‘how much would it cost to resurrect all these people at the same time’ or something.

“As to you, my dear Lily. I think you’re still the same woman. Just wiser. More experience. More stories. I think given a few months we’ll end up where we were. Hopefully you’ll start flirting with me before that. Turn on that teasing and winsome self of yours before then.

“And before you even think about it, there’s no reason to try and seal off your memories of your life spent in the other world. I’m sure it made you a better person, not lesser. There’s a reason I’d gain points from taking that action. It’s because it’d limit you from being at your full potential.”

A Warden with a shield had stowed their energy weapon and was now ravaging the zombie mob with a heavy metal club. He had no idea where it’d gotten it from as it looked to be something that didn’t belong to the warden unit.

Probably should get them a melee weapon that doesn’t need energy or anything.

“Thank you, Felix,” Lily said directly behind him. She’d moved up closer while he was distracted. Her gauntlets rested on the back of his chest plate and she was practically hanging on him. “You sure know how to make a girl feel wanted.”

“Wanted? Lily, do you not remember me practically tearing your damn clothes off?” asked Felix in a pitch that went upward as he spoke. “Pretty sure I left a bite mark on your shoulder that’ll take a Legionnaire healing pod or a week to heal.

“I… yes. Yes you did,” Lily agreed with a throaty chuckle. Then she sighed though he could tell she had a smile on her face just by the sound. “Yes you did. Alright. Fine. You’re right.

“I’m being morose for nothing. It’ll be awkward for us, it’ll take time, but we’ll get back to where we were. Not a problem.”

“Yep. Not a problem. Just uh… fair warning. Andrea is going full on bi-sexual lately,” warned Felix. “She put the heat on Miu, Faith, and Goldie and got into their pants. She’s probably going to do the same to you and Kit. Probably started in on Felicity once Andrea went and got reabsorbed.”

“Ah… she’s already trying. It was unexpected, but also not… Andie is Andie. You can never tell which way she’s going to go.”

“Sometimes, she goes in every direction. Just sends a different Other to do it. Now… pretty lawyer lady… how do you and my HR boss want to handle your counter parts? At some point people are going to realize you look like twins.”

“Kit already put a plan in place for that in case it happens. Her super power opens portals. She’s just going to tell everyone we’re Supers from another world just like this one. That it died to a war that killed almost everyone and were refugees.”

Felix nodded his head. That was a solid and workable excuse if something were to come up. On top of that, so long as they were registered with the association, it wouldn’t be as if they weren’t able to be supported and hired directly into Legion.

“I can hire you through our national branch and put your nationality as undetermined. Legion doesn’t really check those documents. No need to since we have… well… my mom,” Felix said slowly. The horde of enemies were finally thinning out. The Wardens had been diligent in their work. “Mom makes it kinda easy to pick anyone out that’s an issue. That and the Dryads. They’re super useful for that, too.”

“I could see that. Makes perfect sense. I’m sure Felicity is already in the middle of taking a stranglehold over Legion and making it as efficient as possible,” Lily mused. “I missed her when we were making our company. Kit and I, that is.

“Felicity is incredibly at making the middle be perfect so that the top and bottom can do what they need to. By the time we put our attention back into it, I’m sure she’ll have gotten everything to Legion standards.”

“That’s part of the reason I’m not involving myself. Going to let her take care of all that and get it set up. Then I’ll just… come back. Ah… looks like they’re done. Finally,” grumbled Felix. Hefting his weapon he turned it to the side and quickly checked to insure the chamber was empty. Then he chambered a round and moved the weapon selector to semi. Moving around from the defensive wall he started moving into the area.

Andreas were already rushing forward with equipment, gear, building material, and weapons. A few Myriad groups were setting up defensive points with machine-guns and other stationary weapons.

“You know, I’m not surprised at all by that,” Lily remarked, walking along on his left. “You’re just trying to be lazy about it now that Felicity is here.”

“Of course I am. She loves her job and what she does. Why would I try to take it from her? She demanded all my credentials so she could start sorting everything,” Felix asked while laughing. “Before Felicity, I just gave it all to Faith.”

“Yes… yes you did,” grumbled Faith, followed by a sigh. “Though I suppose I did it to myself. Put myself into her position and just did everything I saw her do and tried to replicate it.

“Though, I think I did alright if I don’t say so myself. I think it went well enough that I could step in again later if I had to. I was no Felicity but I didn’t fail either.”

Elves and Dragons had made a circle around Felix. All of them slowly moving forward with him into the area. He briefly spotted an Elf with wings and he wondered where Talia went.

Actually… where did Victoria, Talia, Edith, Erica, and Jessica go? I haven’t seen them and I admit I didn’t ask about them. I probably should have.

Kinda failing, Felix.

I know it’s been a while since I saw them all but geeze.

“Hey, you know it’s hard for me sometimes to keep track of everything. You being there for me was a great help Faith,” countered Felix. “I forget names or where people are all the time.

“Like… where’s Talia? Where’d Edith, Victoria, Erica, and Jessica get off to? Did you hear anything from Felicity about them or look into it?”

“Ah… sorry, I didn’t. I didn’t even think to look into them,” apologized Faith.

“Legate, there is no record of Legionnaire Talia or Legionnaire Victoria in either system. Legionnaire Erica, Legionnaire Jessica, and Legionnaire Edith, are all working on infiltration on the world where I originated. It’s been designated as the ‘OpFor’ world in documentation.”

Shit.

No Victoria or Tali? What the hell happened then.

I know Edmund said there’d be changes but… isn’t that a bit much? I liked Victoria. Talia was fun in a weird way.

Where’d they go? My memories still have them as being around.

“— Jessica are currently spinning up their own news agency. Their budget was approved by Felicity,” Tribune continued. “Legionnaire Edith is operating as their lead investigator.”

“Fascinating,” Felix stated dryly, looking into the ruins of Legion City. He clicked his tongue and looked one way, then the other. “Alright. I guess it’s our turn then. We need to move in and start taking ground. There aren’t any other forces readily available to us given our staff limitations.”

“You’re just excited because you get to do something,” Lily accused.

“Course I am. Now… just for good measure. Bianca? Architect? Ryker’s kiddo? Any chance you’re listening and want to help out?” offered Felix.

“What? Who’re you talking to? The Architect had a kid?” Lily asked sound bewildered.

“Uh… hi?” came back a response from above him. “Ah! That worked. Yes! Hi! Bianca… Bianca here. Or I guess… the Architect. Dad had way more going on than I thought he did.

“Err, wait, what does this do? Does it do anything? Hm. Nothing. Damnit.”

“Great! Great. Err, going to be working at clearing Legion City so I can secure my entry point back into the world,” Felix explained. “After that, I’m going to start working on the city around me. You said you wanted an invitation once I started. So here it is.”

“Oh! Yes! That-yes! I can’t right now though. I’m so deep in the crap my dad left for me that I don’t even know where to start,” Bianca complained. “However… I can send my fiance to help. He’s good at this kind of stuff.

“Also! Also, I can get your sister there. Last I saw she was just moping about with Gus and whining about wanting to go do something. Their world is fairly peaceful given Runner’s response on it.

“He shut down all of Zeus’ forces instantly. For them the war was over as it started.”

“Great, can you just… portal them to me?” Felix asked.

“Sure can. Did you know you’re a god?” Bianca asked somewhat amused. “I’m curious what’ll happen to you after you die. If you’ll become a spiritual god or just pass on.”

“Yeah, I-no. Not really curious. I’d like to not die,” Felix stated.

Bianca laughed at that and then a portal blazed to life in front of him.

“They’re both willing and will be arriving shortly,” Bianca got out with an odd tone. Then she sighed. “Anyways. Back to work for me. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it. Err, if you ever want to take a break and come visit, feel free. Open invitation,” Felix threw out. His and Bianca’s relationship was weird being former enemies. But he didn’t want it to remain that way.”

“Wait, really?” Bianca asked somewhat incredulously.

“Of course. You know… go team Runner? We’re like co-workers. Work colleagues. No reason not to go get a drink or just talk over dinner. It’s what you normally do.”

“I-you-yeah! Sure! Yes! I’ll pop over when I have some free time! That’d be rather nice. Maybe I can make Rene spend some time mucking about with me,” mused the new Architect. “Anyways. Here they come. See you later, Felix!”

“I get the impression you’re prodding at a half mad lioness,” Lily warned.

“Not the first time. I even tamed a soul-drinking lawyer who wanted to turn me inside out,” remarked Felix.

There was a hitched breath, huff, followed by a long sigh over the coms. Felix knew it was Lily. Lily with nothing to say.

There was a strange moment in time where the portal seemed to flicker and split apart, only to vanish entirely. Melody and the man Felix had met who was wearing a mask were now standing in front of him.

The two looked to each other then to him.

“Bro!” Melody exclaimed and jumped at Felix. She wrapped her arms around him and started laughing. “Oh my god I love that armor. Can I have a set? A special set just for me? So I can do contractor things through it? That’d be amazing. Then I could probably even kick Gus’ ass.

“Oh oh oh, the Architect said we get to shoot some guns? Do you have an armory I can raid? How much ammo do you have? Can I just… hold the trigger down?”

Wincing, Felix nodded his head at Melody’s greeting. He looked to the man in the mask at the same time.

“I came loaded. Everytime I do a job like this the Architect covers my costs and needs,” remarked the Masked man. He did indeed looked to be fully kitted out in a way that Felix felt like belonged in a military movie with special operations soldiers. From his boots, to his weapons, to the mask, the helmet, and the coms system it was attached to. “And yes, it’s Rene. Before you confirm my name.

“Though uh… wouldn’t mind a set of armor like that. If you’re going to give one to your sister, I’d love one too. Looks kinda fancy. I’m pretty hard on things though. You wouldn’t be mad if I broke it, would you?”

“I’m transferring two sets of armor down, Legate,” Tribune reported. “I’ve marked them as temporary Legionnaire’s Melody and Legionnaire Rene in the system. Their access is restricted but they’ll be perfectly fine on the integrated A-Net Encampment.

“Melody’s armor is still being fashioned for her specifically and is not yet ready. Though it does appear that it’ll be complete in a few days.”

“Guns are back there,” Felix pointed to the back of the elevator. “Two sets of armor are coming. Honestly… I hate to be a bit of a spoil sport, but we’re just here to do urban-clearing of hostiles. Most of them are monsters and the like.

“Use as much ammo as you like but it’ll be rather anti-climatic. Not much here that can stand up to us. Just a lot of house cleaning.”

The man in the mask was staring up and into the distance as Melody squealed and ran off. Chanting “guns, guns, guns” as she did.

An Andrea caught up to her mid run and was clearly introducing herself.

“Oh, I’m not so sure about your claim,” he began. “Ran from a dragon here, much to my shame. A battle of shot and true aim, where all I could do was outrun the flame.”

“A Dragon?” felix asked.

“Yes. A Dragon,” Rene answered, turning to look at him. “I was here once. Fought a Dragon. Ran away from it. I think there’s more here than you suspect.”

“What the fuck is this!? It looks like a Barret? How the fuck do you shoot this?” screamed Melody. “The rounds say HE? They explode!? AWESOME!”

“Warden’s use that,” answered Andrea through the coms. “It requires more muscle than—”

There was an incredible boom that went off from behind Felix that caused him to look backward. Melody stood at the exit to the service elevator with a massive Warden rifle pulled up to her shoulder. She’d just aimed it at the remains of a wall.

A massive hole had been punched through the middle of it.

“It didn’t explode,” complained Melody looking at Andrea.

“Those are meant for anti-armor,” Andrea explained. She sounded somewhat shocked, which wasn’t possible for her as far as Felix knew. “It didn’t have enough resistance to make it go off.”

“Oh my god can I keep this!? Tell me I can keep this! Brother! LET ME HAVE THIS!” screeched Melody.

Followed by an insane amount of giggling and her running ahead while holding the oversized rifle with relative ease. She ran up to an intersection ahead of them.

She made a loud and long excited noise followed by firing the rifle.

The recoil knocked her back a step, causing her to laugh again. Then she looked back to Felix.

“I BLEW UP A ZOMBIE DOG!” she yelled and then laughed, putting the rifle back to her shoulder.

“Good thing I brought a lot of guns and ammo,” Felix replied, looking back to Rene.