Page 112 of The Not So Super Hero
“Be safe,” he whispered, slowly looking up to lock eyes with Zane.
“You should tell yourself that,” he countered, finally sitting at Bailey’s side.Their shoulders brushed.“Stay out of trouble.”
“I am trouble.”
Zane encased Bailey’s hand with his own.They had been on the same page a lot lately.Both their hands shook, but it didn’t stop Zane’s resolve.
“It doesn’t matter what Antoine says,” Bailey said out of the blue, causing Zane to give him a curious stare.“He can call you a monster or claim that all you do is hurt others but, you get to decide who you are, Zane.Not him.”
Bailey’s words reminded Zane of his conversation with Marceline.Though the phrasing was different, the meaning was the same.He wondered how long it would take for him to actually believe them.For once, the time felt so close he could touch it.
Zane leaned in for a tender kiss, sweeter than a bag of cotton candy.A promise that they’d see each other again as soon as they could.
With that, Zane walked out of the room without looking back.If he did, he might not have left.
In the lobby, Zane met with his transport.An armored convoy, kind of like those buses that transported prisoners, which was what he felt like after getting on board.It wasn’t exactly hiding, though considering Rebirth wasn’t either, there was no point trying to.Traveling with a group of strangers, government especially, was not on the top of Zane’s to-do list.It was uncomfortable, annoying, and a real pain in the ass.He hoped to get a nap on the ride.Thought it’d be like in the movies where they would be all stern and serious in the car.Alas, the world hated him.Most spoke, although it wasn’t all jokes.A lot of the discussions had to do with Rebirth.Information tossed from one officer to the next, keeping each up to date with the current situation.From what Zane heard, Rebirth was everywhere.Members popped up to do little heists to giant revolts in cities, just as the news had said.But there was one conversation in particular that caught Zane’s interest.
“I heard the hero Tempest lost their powers.”
“What do you mean, lost them?”
“I don’t know.They were fighting a member of Rebirth and suddenly dropped.Hasn’t been seen since and there’s talk they aren’t even a Level 1 mutant now.”
Zane turned to eye the officers a few rows back.They were unaware that he was listening in.Mustache was the one who seemed to “know” about the supposed attack with Tempest, while Mr.I-Look-Twelve seemed unconvinced.
“You can’t take someone’s mutation away for good.If they were attacked, then it was likely a mutant that just stunned them.They’ll be back on their feet in no time.”
Mustache shook his head, smirking like he had all the answers.“Not what I hear, M.R.S.is claiming to have a cure.”
Mr.Prepubescent cocked a brow.“There is no cure, and if there was, someone would have found it already.This is a load of crap.Who did you hear it from?”
“A reliable source!”
“Junk television.You’re full of shit.”
Zane tuned them out after that.Not because it was nonsense, but because he believed it.Chris mentioned whispers of it back when he was undercover.At the time, it was all hear-say, no reliable proof or even a hint to whether or not it was true.However, if there was anyone who could find a “cure” to mutations, it was Law.He was a sick and twisted individual with Antoine’s power and money at his beck and call.Even Antoine wanted the ability to pick who got power and who didn’t.If there was talk of a cure, then there likely was one.And it only hardened Zane’s resolve.He had to take Antoine down before he unleashed this “cure” or, worse, gave it to M.R.S.Those sick bastards would kill children if they could get away with it, not to say Rebirth wouldn’t.The two were on the same wavelength, yet somehow M.R.S.roamed free.
Zane rolled his eyes.It was going to be a long ride.
And a long ride it was; over six hours.Zane hadn’t a clue where they were, another city whose name he did not catch.While he desperately tried to sleep on the bus, it didn’t work.Odd.There was once a time that all Zane did was sleep.What happened to such luxuries?He wanted them back.
They arrived at the precinct that Nate and Natalia stayed at.Last Zane heard, Leona was sighted nearby.It was why they were so quick to head down.If Leona was nearby, then catastrophe was bound to strike.There was a chance Antoine was held up somewhere nearby.He rarely let his watch dog go far.
For one of the few times in his life, Zane was eager to get off the bus.It felt weird to be eager, but he was experiencing a lot of new feelings lately so, what the hell, add eagerness to the list!
He wasn’t all that shocked to overhear some frustrated officers speaking badly about his presence.Their gazes followed closely behind him, and the officers leading him to Natalia and Nate.He kept his gaze ahead, regardless of the heat at his back.He didn’t blame them for it.Zane had no prior experience as an officer or military.He lacked specialized training—their specialized training, at least.However, none knew of the experience he had and none hoped to have it either.Their words didn’t bother him, but it was going to be a pain having to deal with them.
“Look who finally joined us,” Nate teased the moment Zane stepped into the room.The officer escorting him quickly left, allowing Zane to take in the new audience he was standing before.
Nate and Natalia sat at a table in a conference room that resembled a wall splashed by an ugly shade of blue paint.Maps, pictures, and information reflected on TV screens scattered about.People even brought in boards to scribble on, as well as more tables and chairs that sat strangers.Zane recognized two strangers as heroes.The first being Roux, he recalled seeing her on TV.Next to her was Seven, the only one of the strangers to offer Zane a smile.
“You must be Zane.We were told a lot about you,” one man said that Zane assumed was in charge of the option.His hair was more salt than pepper, slicked back and wore a boring black suit.“I’m Paul.I would ask the others to introduce themselves, but we don’t have much time for pleasantries.”
“That’s fine.I don’t really do pleasantries,” Zane replied, taking the empty seat by Natalia’s side.She kicked him beneath the table and he happily returned the favor.She bit back a smile.
“To keep it simple, we have eyes on Leona,” Paul explained, gesturing towards the boards and monitors.Zane took the time to examine them more thoroughly while Paul chattered.
They certainly had been keeping themselves busy.Pictures of the riots and officials at M.R.S.flashed through the room.Notes over took the boards mostly, questions, answers, locations, so much that Zane wondered if he’d ever catch up.His gaze lingered on a picture of Antoine.It was clearly older, judging by how carefree he was standing outside.From what Nate said, no one had physically seen him since their last run in.There were only whispers, hints to where he was or what he was doing.
