Corpies (Super Powereds Spinoff Book 1) (15 page)

“Topsy, this is Galvanize; he leads the PEERS team I’m a Hero Liaison for. Galvanize, this is Topsy. He was-”

“Titan, please. A Hero like Topsy needs no introduction.” Galvanize stepped forward and took the older, shorter man’s hand. “It’s a real honor to meet you, sir. The Gentle Hammers were one of my favorite Hero teams growing up.”

“Look at that, some of the young ones still know us old dogs,” Topsy said, giving Galvanize’s hand an enthusiastic shake. “And he even knows a Gentle Hammer other than Titan! Been a while since anyone bothered remembering that.”

Owen winced inwardly at the remark, even though he knew Topsy hadn’t meant it to be painful. The Gentle Hammers had been his first Hero team, founded mostly from Sizemore Tech graduates he’d kept in touch with through their intern years. In the beginning, they’d all been more or less unknowns. When their prestige grew, it grew as a team. Those were the golden days, back when everyone had been working together and happy. Unfortunately, Titan’s reputation soon began to outpace—and eventually eclipse—the rest of the team’s. The Gentle Hammers were still around when his scandal broke, but he, Topsy, and Shock Lock were the last founding members. The team had officially dissolved a few years after he went into exile.

“Topsy, I’m still not sure how I didn’t know you were here. I just checked on all the active Heroes in Brewster last night,” Owen said.

“Ah, but I’m not active anymore, am I? No, I’m working as an advisor and trainer for one of the local Hero teams. I can still jump in if the need demands, though these bones don’t move as quick as they used to. Unlike you, some of us have to actually cope with getting older.”

“If you try and tell me that a little thing like age has slowed you down then I’ll grab you by your ankles and shake you until you admit you’re a mimic,” Owen threatened.

“Let’s say it’s half getting older and half getting less suicidal. I’d like to make it to see my grandkids one day. Plus, it’s nice to pass on some of the lessons we earned through blood and broken bones to the next generation. The ones I’m coaching are plenty powerful, but heaven almighty, are they stubborn and impulsive.”

It took all of his self-control for Owen to bite back the chuckle that wanted to escape his lips. Topsy had been the most easily provoked member of The Gentle Hammers, often barreling into fights without so much as basic recon. It was only an incredible ability, loads of skill, and a fair smattering of luck that had kept him alive.

“I’m sure you’re teaching them a lot about control,” Galvanize said. If there was even a hint of sarcasm in his words, he buried it under a mountain of sincerity. “May I ask which team you’re an advisor to?”

“Please just don’t say it’s Elemental Fury,” Owen mumbled under his breath.

The mumbling wasn’t quite as soft as he’d intended, as Topsy replied, “No, they’ve got plenty of retired members of their own to do the advising. I’m helping a newer team, Wild Bucks: mostly offensive types with a couple of Supers for doing defense. They’re getting better, but what I wouldn’t give to snag a Subtlety Hero for them.”

“I’ve heard of Wild Bucks,” Galvanize said. “They came on the scene last year. Lots of physically-based abilities, not unlike The Gentle Hammers.”

“Similar, to be sure. If you’re ever up to stopping by and giving them some pointers, Titan, I’m sure they’d be grateful for the tutelage.”

“Much as I’d love to, I’m already in over my head with the local Hero teams,” Owen said. “I’m supposed to do an ability assessment with Elemental Fury soon, unless Lenny can somehow talk them out if it.”

“Talk them out of it? That doesn’t sound like the Lenny I used to know,” Topsy replied. “If anything I’d expect him to turn the whole production into a circus and take a cut of everything from the clown makeup to the elephant shit.”

“Damn it. . . that does sound a lot more like Lenny. Maybe I should call him.”

“We’ll be done here soon, Titan.” Galvanize’s tone was polite, like he was gently reminding someone of a schedule conflict rather than instructing his teammate to stay on task. “The rest of the evening is yours, barring any unforeseen crises, of course.”

“Up for a drink, Topsy?” Owen asked.

“Another time. I’ve got my team scheduled for some training drills tonight. After how they performed against today’s robot attack, they need to polish their skills.” Topsy nodded to Galvanize, then headed off down the street.

“I didn’t see Wild Bucks on the news reports,” Galvanize said once he thought Topsy was out of earshot.

“They were some of the first to respond,” Owen told him, hours of reading up on the incident finally paying off. “None got killed, but most were incapacitated within the first few minutes. The media leaving them out of the story was actually a pretty kind gesture, one I’m sure Topsy had a lot to do with.”

“Sounds rough.” Galvanize turned back to the street, where things were slowly beginning to look less chaotic. “Speaking of rough, we still need your help with the dumpster. It’s a beast; none of our strongmen can get a grip on the whole thing, so we’re coordinating a group effort.”

“No problem,” Owen said. “Just tell me where the team needs me. That’s what I’m here for.”

26.

               “Yes, but. . .”

“That isn’t how I wanted. . .”

“Of course I trust you. . .”

“Now you listen here. . .”

“Fine
! Just do whatever you want.”

Owen gripped the phone tightly as he jabbed the button to end the call. Only its hardy construction kept it from flying to pieces. As soon as he’d gotten back to the penthouse from the cleanup, he’d called Lenny, who had unapologetically confirmed his worst fears. Not only did he not get the assessment with Elemental Fury canceled, he managed to make the situation into a bigger shitshow than it already was.

Lenny could run his mouth all day about how Gale might back down now that odds weren’t stacked in her favor; they both knew it was bullshit. Gale was young, powerful, and just successful enough to be insecure about her position. She wasn’t going to back down from a damned volcano, let alone some washed up Hero and his bald agent.

With more care than he felt like using, Owen set the phone down. The last thing he needed to add to his frustration was the mountain of paperwork Greene would surely make him file to replace any of the room’s furnishings. No, he needed to wind down a little, to take his mind off the growing mountain of crap he had to deal with.

For a fleeting moment, he considered hitting up Brin’s Gate, the Hero bar Gale had shown him. It was tempting, but the risk of running into her was more than he was willing to undertake. If she’d been around Lenny today then she was likely to tear Owen apart the moment they laid eyes on one another.

Instead, Owen changed into sweats and headed off toward the gym. While they didn’t have anything that would challenge his lifting abilities, it still calmed him to do basic aerobics and calisthenics. The focused monotony cleared his head, and if he kept at it for enough hours, he occasionally worked up enough of a sweat to release some endorphins.

No sooner had he opened the gym’s door than Owen regretted his decision. Leaping around the rescue simulation part of the gym was Zone, normally spiky hair matted to his scalp thanks to the abundance of sweat pouring from his body. Briefly, Owen considered backing away from the door and hoping his teammate didn’t notice. He decided against it, though, walking in with just enough noise to be sure Zone knew he was no longer alone. If the kid wanted to hate him, that was fine, but Owen would be damned if he let that affect his choices. Besides, if he really wanted to help Galvanize pull his team together, he would need to deal with this issue sooner or later.

“Evening,” Owen said, keeping his greeting as neutral as possible.

Zone did a flip off a fake roof, landing lightly several feet away. When he came down, an incredibly short wince of pain shot across his face. Most people wouldn’t have noticed it or recognized it for what it was, but Owen knew in an instant. He’d spent too many years around other Heroes, people whose jobs demanded a physicality that was impossible for most to manage for long. The kid had worn something in his body down and he was trying to keep it hidden.

“What are you doing here? None of the shit we have could train you.”

“Maybe I came for the pleasant atmosphere,” Owen shot back. He regretted it as soon as he’d spoken; he needed to try and mend this bridge, not torch it further.

“That got wrecked the minute you walked in.” Zone grabbed a towel and started to head for the door.

“All right, kid, enough of this crap. You got something you want to say? We’re right here, just you and me. No one to tell you to calm down, no one to hold you back. Either say your piece or quit all the sniping bullcrap.”

Zone froze midway to the door and looked back over his shoulder. “Go eat shit. I don’t have to do this your way. If I want to keep calling you out every chance I get and never tell you the reason why, I damn sure will.”

“That would be a great point, except that you’ve been trying to lay into me since I got here. Only circumstance has stopped you. I’m not telling you to do it my way; I’m trying to give you the chance to do it yours.” Owen crossed his arms and met Zone’s withering glare. “But if you want to keep up the snide ridiculousness, go ahead. I somehow doubt you’ll get any harder to ignore.”

“You just think you know everything, don’t you?”

“I know you’re pissed off at me, sorry, at Titan, and clearly have been long before I was ever on your team. What’s the deal? You think I’m a shithead for walking away? That’s fair. Dislike that I lied to the public? Tough shit; I was lying to people that I cared about way more, myself included. Hell, maybe you just don’t like gay people.”

“Fuck you!” Zone yelled, all composure gone as he stormed back toward Owen. “You really want to do this? Fine! I hate you—not Titan,
you,
Owen—because of what you could have done. Look at you! You’re tough, strong, and intimidating as all hell. If you’d come out of the gates as gay, you could have given an icon to all the Supers out there who wanted to be Heroes but were scared their orientation didn’t fit the masculine ideal. You could have been the symbol they held up to show that being gay didn’t mean they couldn’t kick ass. You could have given people hope and encouragement and instead you did
the exact fucking opposite
! After your scandal, every openly gay Hero has had to live in the shadow of the bullshit you pulled.”

“Yeah, that’s a damn good reason to be pissed.” Owen’s voice was calm as he stared at the red-faced young man in front of him. Zone had gotten so worked up during his speech that a few flecks of spittle had struck Owen on the chest. Owen had expected to get pissed himself when this finally came to a head, but instead he felt oddly serene. Zone hadn’t said anything Owen hadn’t told himself countless times over the past decade. He already knew he’d fucked things up. Being called out on it didn’t change things.

“Is that it? Is that your apology?”

“No, Zone. I was raised that we don’t sincerely apologize with words; we do it with actions. Words are washed away by time and memory. They’re easy to create and easier to forget. I owe an apology to a lot of folks, the ones I lied to and the ones I let down by leaving. I’m saying I’m sorry to everyone, you included, by going back out there and trying to do good. You may never accept my apology; I know plenty of people won’t. That’s damned sure your right, but I’ll be out there making it regardless. That is literally all I can do.”

“I don’t think it will ever be enough,” Zone said, the fire and energy gone slowing draining out of him.

“Probably not. Doesn’t mean I don’t have to try.”

Zone turned to walk out of the gym, slowly now, not even bothering to storm away. Owen called to him.

“Who was it? Friend, family-”

“Big brother. Strongman, like you. His powers are worlds above mine. Easily could have been a Hero and helped a lot of people. Instead, he does construction in Ohio.”

With that, Zone exited the gym, leaving Owen alone with his thoughts and his guilt.

27.

               Owen walked in the living room the next morning to find two men he’d never seen before talking to Galvanize. The taller of the two had dark hair and the kind of wiry frame Owen associated with easily excitable computer guys. The shorter one had brown hair and a rounder build. They both were sporting crisp white lab coats, and the taller one held a clipboard in his hand. At first, Owen took in this sight with curiosity bordering on interest, but everything inside him turned to panic when he was struck by an overpowering realization.

He wasn’t wearing any kind of mask.

Instincts kicked into gear. He spun around, ready to dart down the hallway and pray they hadn’t noticed him. Before he could, Galvanize’s voice rang through the room.

“Titan, good morning! Come over here and meet the docs. I doubt you’ll need them, but you’re going to see them around from time to time.”

Owen tried to steady himself. These men were probably on staff, meaning they’d signed the kind of nondisclosure agreements only large corporations and sociopathic villains could conjure up. Galvanize wasn’t an idiot; he’d already shown a lot of deference to Owen’s need for privacy and hiding his identity. If he was calling Owen over, then there had to be some sort of safety system in place. Still. . . it wouldn’t hurt to double check before he turned his face back toward them.