Built Different [Cyborg Superhero ProgFant]

Before I could retreat back to reality, Roxy had a barrage of questions to ask me about my sudden meeting with Boss.

What did he mean by phases? How was he in the video the Gov goons had shown us after the Arena? What exactly was he giving me three days to consider? Why had I just let him leave?

Her annoyance was only short-lived after I gave her a shrug in response to all of that. We had a family meal to get back to. She could tell that I wasn't exactly myself, so put away her questions for later. With a brief hug, she led me back into the house.

After that surprise, the social event with her family felt like a step down in intensity. It took a few minutes for my brain to defrost, but I fell back into my element not long after.

The meal itself was awkward on the basis that I was the only one not partaking. That didn't stop Roxy's mother from offering me everything, as if I was only declining to be polite. Debra was just… overwhelmingly sweet. She hung on every word I spoke during the small talk and radiated positivity. While the first impression was that she was a little airheaded, she was actually very knowledgeable about most subjects brought up at the table.

In this way, she reminded me of Roxy a lot… although the super definitely took after her father when it came to temperament.

After Hank had some food in him, his disposition softened. Still very much brash and like he'd rather be out in the field, but he joined in the conversation in earnest. Especially when he had the opporunity to grumble about something. I could tell the pair were happy to have both of the girls back here. Clara had mentioned they had all but adopted her, and it was clear as day with the way they treated her like Roxy's little sister. The youngest, who could do no wrong - much to the super's chagrin.

With the League restriction over how often and when a hero could leave the city, family dinners like this were restricted to only a couple of times a year. I hated that for them. Even though I was still a guest, part of my growth was being more… normal, for lack of a better word. If possible, I'd like to do this more.

It turned out that her parents knew a lot more about me than I had first realized. Perhaps it explained the half-hearted grilling Hank had given me once I had clocked they had watched the Arena. In fact, they had absorbed every news article and video clip of me since Roxy mentioned we were dating. I forgot that being a celebrity made it much easier to be tracked.

I had already been judged for my actions and had been found to be… less of an asshole than Maestro. That counted as a win.

While Roxy got roped into helping wash up, I found myself stepping out onto the porch. Clara was already out there, sitting on a chair and writing in her notepad. Upon hearing me step out, she looked up and raised an eyebrow.

[I offered to dry, but was turned away.]

"Youngest privilege," she said, explaining her absence from tidying duties. "Father always naps after a big meal, which gives the other two time to gossip alone."

I sighed and sat in the chair nearest her. It creaked slightly, but settled in comfortably. Hours had passed, judging by the position of the sun. It wasn't too long before we'd need to head back to Goldarch. I closed my eyes and relaxed.

[Any hints as to what you are cooking up there?]

"Hmm." The techie tapped her finger on the page. "Not yet. I'd prefer to have proof of concept first. Too easy to reach for the stars when we don't have a roof over our heads."

[Ren has offered to front a substantial amount of credits to help with that.]

"Director Kingston is on the hook for this one." Clara closed her notepad. "If he doesn't at least offer to replace everything that we lost, then…"

I opened my eyes to see that she was scowling out at the desert, toward Goldarch. Part of me was hoping that Kingston would give us an upgrade. I liked Roxy's house, and the small outpost we were building together. If anything, the fight against Chevalier… rescuing the Director… it was all proof of our competency.

He wanted us to flourish and be an effective tool in his belt. A more secure home and better facilities for the Natural Disasters as a team were necessary.

[I'm more put out that Kingston is giving us the cold shoulder at present.]

"The man has a lot on his plate. While not solely in charge of the League of Heroes, his political power has gone from a thin thread to… well, probably the lion's share." She twirled the pen around in her fingers. "Consolidating that takes precedence over patting us on the back."

[We do deserve patting, though.]

"Undoubtedly." Clara looked back at me and smiled. "Still, the sooner we can get your reloading contraption back up and running, the safer I'll feel, Gunquake. Care to divulge what Boss had to say to you?"

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

I took a deep breath and sighed. Spent a moment gathering my thoughts and dredging up the conversation that I had with the man not so long ago. Detailed it all out to the techie.

"Troublesome," she eventually concluded.

[Seems we are never done fighting something.]

"Oh, not that." Clara furrowed his brow. "It was his insinuation that you are a multiplying force. I hadn't chalked it up to much past rising to the occasion, but perhaps that is why the team has been growing so much."

Superheroes were generally static when it came to their powers. There were certainly breakthroughs and advancements made, but evolving their craft was limited. Adapting new ideas of how to use the power they had was what set the weaker heroes apart from the stronger. I hadn't considered the Natural Disasters to be progressing faster than standard as I had no baseline to compare it to.

[You're saying I… Inspire people to be their better selves?]

The techie rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't go as far as to give it a proper noun, Gunquake. The proof is readily before you, however. Even my own technical understanding and capabilities have improved since we met… and I spend less time than ever in study."

I looked up at the blue sky. Inspiring improvement definitely sounded like a nicer purpose in life than being a tool of murder. Not that I could ever escape the latter.

"Even over the last few days," she continued. "You were not privy to the fight the other three Disasters found themselves in when defending the Director, but they each utilized new skills. Mostly developed on the day. They will surprise you the next time we are called into action, Gunquake."

The image of the group at that first housewarming party popped into my mind. Every single one of us was a new person. I wasn't about to take credit for that, but I had been a catalyst. Kingston had played his hand as well. It was more apparent to me now that he had swooped in once Boss' safety was compromised. Roxy's house. Clara's assistance. Forcing the Disasters back together…

[What are your thoughts on this supposed 'phase two'?]

"Cloning is illegal, with certain caveats," she responded as she put the end of the pen to her mouth in thought. "That said, the World Government are the most likely to break their own rules. A more dutiful but less competent Chevalier is not a great threat to us. Ten of them… maybe. A hundred? A war difficult for us to fight alone."

[Depending on which brother they have.]

She raised an eyebrow quizzically, but didn't prompt me to elaborate.

Chevalier was a hardy frontliner, built for bravado and resourcefulness. Arbalest was a ranged assassin, a threat even when you had him in close range. Warlock was… a kitten. My mind went blank when trying to draw any real details about the man he once was.

As for me? Bard was support. A rallying point for downtrodden allies. The bloodied banner of success waved in the midst of the battlefield. Something of a utility tool. Perhaps way too poetic on occasion.

I turned my attention to the side as the front door opened, and Roxy stepped out. The scowl and immediately crossed arms told me she wasn't too pleased about having to be the responsible child out of the three of us.

"If I have to answer another question about whether I'm having children or coming back to work on the farm, I will literally flip the house over," she seethed under her breath.

I pictured her standing by a tractor with a pitchfork over her shoulder. Wearing a straw hat and little else. She must have seen right through me, as she narrowed her eyes in my direction.

"Gunquake and I were just discussing his daddy issues."

[I'm… I wouldn't describe it that exact way.]

Roxy grabbed a chair from the other side of the porch and pulled it over to sit with us. "Not to dogpile on your partially unexplained appearance into this world, but I'm surprised you don't have parental issues on both sides of the aisle."

[Perhaps your mother would adopt me if I ask nicely enough.]

The super gave me a dull glare. "Let's focus on the more problematic family right now, huh?"

[The main factor being whether we agree to nip the potential problem in the bud, I assume?]

Neither of them could really say for sure, but I had a feeling that was what Boss had been getting at. Repelling an army attacking Goldarch was a given. We were heroes, and that was our home. What was being asked of us was… a more proactive approach to the issue.

"I'll go along with whatever you decide," Roxy eventually said. "If only to keep your reckless ass alive."

Clara shook her head. "Being passive is not constructive, sister."

"That's not what I'm… fine. You want my opinion? We need more information before getting dragged into further problems."

I nodded before rubbing a finger along the seam of my gas mask. Even though we had just emerged from the exit of one problem, we still had plenty of plates spinning. Getting me a mouth was a pipe dream, but we had options, even if slim. Traveling half the continent on a mission with no proof of urgency or even if Boss was telling the truth was a difficult sell.

Not to mention the League of Heroes and what they'd say about us wanting to take such a long trip.

Then again, Boss had said Belle and her teleportation were important.

[If there is a verifiable threat to us or Goldarch, then we will discuss potential steps, but I'm not being led on a wild goose chase. I don't fully trust Boss.]

"He is definitely more than he seems." Clara frowned at the space where the invisible vehicle had been parked. "A biotech scientist is one thing, but he seems well financed. Keeping out of sight of the World Government is quite a feat."

"Probably has some connections. Favors from people who know how to keep their mouths shut." The super wrinkled up her face. "He wasn't what I expected. You have his full name, right? Maybe we can dig up his past and-"

"Already tried," Clara interrupted. "His records have been scrubbed. Can't even find anything on the underground web."

Part of me felt I should despise the man. He had created me as a weapon to destroy those guilty only of being born with superpowers. Even if he regretted it, the damage had been done. Now we were both assets to be depreciated. The Gov wanted us gone, and neither of us was willing to go quietly. We were on the same side… but we weren't allies.

I grunted, the sour feeling in my stomach ruining what was otherwise a pleasant day.

[Let's just enjoy the rest of our day off. We'll ruminate on our doomed fates tomorrow after a good sleep.]

While Clara nodded and went back to her notepad, I didn't receive an immediate response from Roxy. The super frowned and brought her hand up to the side of her head, activating her STAR.

Her expression dulled, and she sighed an unintelligible curse word or two.

"Little detour on the journey home. League wants us to investigate a crime scene in the outskirts."