Built Different [Cyborg Superhero ProgFant]

After the overpowering noise of the crowd and the thrum of conflicting energies, the serenity of the break room was uncomfortably silent.

I sat in this crushing peace. The chair beneath me was reasonably supportive. Plain light blue walls, windowless. No other furniture or decor aside from the Arena assistant stood posted by the door so that I did not leave. If it weren't for their presence, I might have assumed this was some kind of sensory deprivation experiment.

What was I even doing here? It had seemed rather early in the event to be having an advertising break. Two of the challenges down in what had felt like minutes. It had probably been longer, but still…

My eyes darted to the first sound and movement detected in five minutes. The door opened and a burst of color stepped through.

"Dubs!" Roxy exclaimed as she strode over to me.

I didn't even have a chance to get up from my seat before she was over here, leaning down to hug onto me.

[It's a relief to see you. I didn't know I was allowed conjugal visits here.]

"As if." She pulled away, her eyes burning bright as she grinned at me. "You're killing it out there, babe. Metaphorically, for a change."

[Really? Generally when I go up against the odds, I either suffer heavy bodily damage or excel beyond human means. Losing to Maestro in the first round was…]

"A technicality." The super stood straight and crossed her arms. "I don't know the full picture, but from what Clara could see, he wasn't exactly miles ahead of you."

[Then I broke the rules to win the second round.]

Roxy rolled her eyes. "Winning is winning." She glanced over at the attendant before returning her fiery glare to me. "Next one is in your favor as well."

I nodded slowly. Given my skills, that could only mean one of a handful of things. The fact that they'd sent her could mean that… no, probably not that. My sanity was taking damage in this room. It was more likely that the next challenge was a fight.

Of the four heroes, there was no doubt in my mind I had the most experience when it came to battle. It wasn't even close. My lifetime kill-count was probably in the thousands, which was briefly worrying.

Working as intended.

Whether the Arena was about to throw a single powerful enemy at me, or expect me to fight my way through a group of opponents… I had no worries about either eventuality.

[Are we all competing at the same time again?]

She shook her head. "No. That's why I was sent to keep you company. Not that I was the first pick, but I can be pretty persuasive."

[I believe you already. Let me guess - they are making me go last as I'm ahead in points?]

"Bingo. Which is okay, right? Imagine going out first and nailing the task just as quickly as you did the obstacle course?" Roxy gave the blank wall to the side a dull glare.

The underlying point of the whole event was to put on a show. Maybe I had ruffled a few feathers by not playing along with the obstacle course, even if it got the crowd talking. A replay of that would just make the Arena organizers look bad. This was meant to be a daring display of the power and passion employed by the heroes that defended the populace.

If I made it look like child's play, it would unsettle more than the audience in wait.

In fact, it was surprising that I hadn't received any admonishment or encouragement from Kingston. The situation was awkward, to put it mildly. Although I was no stranger to being told what to do, the set of expectations here at the Arena felt… cheap. Like they meant nothing.

[The longer I'm out there, however…]

Roxy nodded slowly. "There's no indication that…" She glanced at the statuesque attendant by the door. "Any bad feelings on your end?"

[Nothing specific.]

It was almost as if it was intentional. Out there in the stadium, I was sure that Silhouette could walk right up to me without me noticing. There was just too much magic and tech, amongst the constant noise and bright lights. Overwhelming for me. My mental faculties were fatigued. A dangerous thing.

Third time was the charm. The first time I was totally off my game, I lost my legs to Red Dust. Second time was when the gang attacked me, and I just abandoned the culprits in the street. Not quite as personally detrimental, but a bad showing. Potentially a lot worse had I been a little unluckier.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Now, in front of the city, I was put on the spot. Winning the Arena wasn't entirely out of the question, even if I wasn't at 100%. Fighting off an assassination at the same time was where the real test began. It had to be inevitable because the opportunity was so great. Killing me in my sleep some random night just didn't have the same pizzazz to it.

"I've never seen you look so troubled, Dubs."

I looked back up at the super from wherever my inner fogginess was taking me. It was impressive that she was able to read me when my face was so obscured. Despite usually melting away under her warmth, I couldn't shake the shadows clouding my mind.

He was here.

With my senses overwhelmed, I didn't know for sure, of course. A gut feeling that my other living brother wasn't so far away.

Tangible evidence of my past. A dark blade wielded by the World Government to slice away at the fat I had put on during my season of growth. I wasn't naïve enough to think that there could be an end where I came face-to-face with Boss or the squad manager and everything was settled neatly. The ones in charge didn't see me as the protagonist. Just a loose end that needed snipping.

[I'm just… a little nervous about meeting your parents.]

"Asshole." Roxy furrowed her brow, but smiled warmly. "We both know that's not why. Just remember, I've got your back. Whatever happens."

[A loss at the Arena doesn't count if there are no witnesses, right?]

I received a scowl in response, and flexing my metal fingers did nothing but make the attendant shuffle uncomfortably. Not the right place to joke about mass murder, apparently. Even as she admonished me with her fiery eyes, I knew that under certain circumstances she would use her powers for horrifying things.

It made me wonder how many other supers were just a few bad days away from becoming villains. Slightly worse than the possibility I might be attacked and killed during the Arena was the chance that a smear campaign would be run on me and my past. The Gov probably weren't smart enough, if they were sending my brother.

Ruining my reputation as a hero would take away my safety net, but they were also trying to avoid turning me into a cornered animal. Right now, in this sterile room, I was starting to feel rather caged.

[Is there anything you can tell me about the outside world?]

Roxy glanced over at the attendant before exhaling through her nose. She stepped over and sat herself on the arm of the chair to my left. "There were a lot of people who weren't happy you shat all over the obstacle course rules. The fact that you're a new face and the underdog played in your favor, though. Majority loved it."

[They didn't give us actual points for the challenges?]

"Usually the scoring system is more transparent." The super frowned again. "This Arena is kinda fucky compared to any other that I can remember. I'm not insinuating foul play, but…"

[A tilting of the scales.]

Enemies in high places. While the Directors of the League didn't have physical power to threaten me, bureaucratic pressure could be a drag on my career. All the more reason Kingston needed to win control within the League. Speaking of him…

//Gunquake: Enjoying the show so far?

There was no immediate response. Not entirely unexpected, but I couldn't help it from nagging at my nerves.

"Assuming all goes to plan, then we're having a party with the others later." Roxy leaned backward against my shoulder. "If you want, anyway."

[Of course. There are no press obligations if I win?]

"Surprisingly little. A short speech, maybe? You'll have to jump through other bullshit hoops later on… but let's focus on today."

I agreed wholeheartedly. She had mentioned some kind of gala where I'd need to wear a suit at some point. If things hadn't worked out as they had, then that would probably be where I would have butted heads with Maestro. The limelight had shone down on me sooner than expected, with the reinvention of the Natural Disasters. With all things going well, I should turn up to that gala now as a renowned hero, rather than a mysterious amateur.

[What can you tell me about… Snake-guy?]

The super adjusted her positioning so that she could give me a glance. "What could you possibly want to know about him?"

Where to start?

[Why is he here?]

She shrugged. "Same reason as everyone else. Something to prove and willing to take the risk."

[He was chosen over the other original entrants.]

"Cult following. I think. He's been around a while, but never really on my radar. Works up in the north of the city, as far as I know." Roxy pulled a face. "His powers don't seem to be too obvious."

There wasn't a lack of minor heroes in the city. Most with only base powers didn't even sign up at the League. The emergency services had their share of otherwise average individuals who happened to have slightly higher than normal strength or agility. Even if Snake-guy was a D-Rank hero, he'd have abilities that weren't so basic.

[The mathematical puns didn't make any sense either.]

"Hmm? Can't say I noticed."

Aggravating. It felt as though there was an inside joke that I had been excluded from. Maybe just a red herring, or a warning from my waning sanity. Either way, I almost disliked the odd hero more than Maestro. I sighed.

[Chances on me fighting Maestro in a duel at the end of all this?]

"High." She relaxed against me again. "Good for views, you know? Probably bad for his health, though."

[Might be cathartic.]

"Spreading his brains across the Arena because you don't know your own strength is a bit much." Roxy sighed. "Although if he wins the Arena, he will be infinitely insufferable. We might have to burn the city down if that happens."

A tempting prospect. It wouldn't be too hard to drown out his insect-like whining in that instance, and I didn't think the public would stick behind him past the luster of the post-Arena celebrations. I just had a knack for being a popular face, which was ironic in some ways.

[We'll have to wait and see what the fourth challenge is.]

The super grunted an agreement, and we settled into a comfortable silence. Just her presence alone was enough to melt away at the edges of my worries. Clara filtered through some information as we rested. Nothing that pointed to an obvious threat in or around the Arena. There were too many variables that even she couldn't watch them all.

If the World Government was going to attack me, they were being impressively covert about it. This level of competence was unprecedented.

I also had not received a reply from Kingston yet.

This was still the case one infinity later, when the attendant brought a hand up to his ear and nodded. His statuesque posture relaxed as he turned to us.

Even before he spoke, I knew what this meant.

It was my turn to fight.