บท 52: Vance - 6.3
Ingenia jumped on top of me, her plasma blades plunging into my back repeatedly. Hundreds upon hundreds of times in mere seconds. The wound on my thigh closed enough for me to pull my fingers out, but the lightning washed over me making any movement difficult as my muscles seized from the volts. The energy boiled my blood off me, charring the remnants onto my body.
The knives twisted deeper into my flesh, red droplets raining onto the ground and splattering everywhere. Ingenia's suit and the dome were bespeckled with my blood, creating a gruesome reimagining of a Pollock painting.
My anger surged. I was helpless again, the memory of the subway flashing across my mind. Heat burned my skin, cries of agony filled my ears. I tried to help her, but I was too weak.
Ingenia's eyes widened with surprise before narrowing with resolve. "I'll make you a real hero."
"You would be a murderer?" I asked, my voice firm, remembering the web-man's words, "Ingenia, is this what he would have wanted?"
Ingenia looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and despair. For a moment, she seemed to consider my words, but then her eyes flickered, the resolve returning to her gaze.
"No," she whispered, her voice uneasy before turning cold once more, "I suppose not. That's the point of it really."
She activated a final gadget on her belt, one less polished than the rest. A familiar device, began to hum with a low, ominous tone. The energy field around us intensified, the air crackling with power.
"If I can't beat you like this," she said, her voice trembling, "I'll take us both-"
Realizing that could not mean anything decent, I lunged for her hand, but it was too late.
Her face softened at the last instant, realizing what she did. She looked at me with fear, loneliness, and regret. Ingenia contracted the force field, to just around her body.
The device detonated, a blinding flash of light engulfing us both. The force of the explosion swelling inside of the bubble. The flames expanded and folded in on themselves, the blast lasting for several long seconds. The ground quaked as the pavement beneath the explosion caved in, venting the blast into the sewers.
As the dust settled, I looked around, my vision swimming. The energy field was gone, and Ingenia's empty suit lay amidst the debris. The SWAT team moved at a snail's pace to arrest Muscle-Chain.
I blinked several times, looking around. I saw the officer, rising from behind the concrete lean-to. He was almost stationary. I struggled to my feet, my body screaming at every minute adjustment. How do I slow down?
Panic set in. Would I forever be on my own clock? I sat down. The adrenaline that had fueled me through the fight was fading, leaving a bone-deep exhaustion in its wake- no, starvation. Absolutely famished, I passed out.
Sergeant shook me awake, his face a mix of concern and awe.
"You okay, kid?" He asked, as soon as I opened my eyes.
"No," I managed, the words rough and raw. "She..."
"We're quite lucky her suit malfunctioned," He nodded, sitting down beside me and letting out a deep breath. "This was no bombing, thanks to you. Be proud of that."
I managed a weak smile. "Thanks, but she-."
"Accidentally only killed herself." He interrupted, not even allowing me to speak my guilt. "That's the only thing you need to care about. You saved everyone you could. Don't get hung up on the suicide bomber."
As the medics approached to tend to my wounds, I glanced back at Ingenia. Her suit's glow had faded, the cyan energy replaced by the dull sheen of metal.
"Sergeant," I continued.
"Duke, just Duke." He responded, gratitude filling his voice.
I continued, "Duke, something felt off, about her. Sometimes her eyes contradicted her actions."
"Ingenia served this city for a couple years," Duke said, "But she was a secret terrorist."
"I don't..." An echo of pain from my chest interrupted my voice.
Duke interjected while I winced, "Kid, there's some people you just can't do anything with but put down, like a rabid dog."
As they cleaned my wounds and administered pain relief, I kept my gaze fixed on the husk of Ingenia.
Duke said his voice low and steady. "You know, you did something tonight that not many would have the guts to do. Even when you were down, you kept pushing."
I nodded, wincing slightly as they cleaned the blood from across every inch of my body. "I just... I wanted everyone to make it back for dinner. Even the bad ones leave families behind, Duke. Tragedy breeds violence more that compassion."
He chuckled softly. "I'd take possible violence over current any day of the week. Kid, you can't go through life too concerned with the future to not do what's best in the present. Don't let a big heart get you killed."
A large pile of bloodied gauze grew beside us as the EMTs worked.
I looked up at him, my vision swimming with fatigue. "I guess that's what makes us different, huh? The heart, the drive to help, no matter what."
"Exactly," he replied, his tone firm with reassurance.
The medics finished their work, and I struggled to stand up, the pain in my body a constant reminder of the night's events. The sergeant rose too, offering his arm for support. "Come on, kid. Let's get you some rest. You've earned it."
As we moved away from the scene, the weight of everything that had happened began to settle in. The Alley Knights, the villain, and the city's underbelly—the battles fought and the ones still to come. My thoughts kept drifting back to Ingenia and Muscle-Chain.
"Hey," Duke said, breaking through my thoughts. "You think you'll be alright?"
I nodded, "Yeah. I think I will. Just need some time to figure things out."
"You mind riding with us to The Balk? I think the guys would feel a little better. Could drop you off at the hospital right after..." He said with slight worry in his voice as he watched the men load Muscle-Chain's unconscious body up for transport.
"Sure thing." I agreed.
As we reached the SWAT van, the sergeant helped me inside, the cool interior a stark contrast to the heat and chaos outside. The medic settled me onto a seat, checking my vitals one last time before the doors closed, sealing me off from the battlefield. The van's interior was utilitarian, lined with metal benches and storage compartments for equipment. Muscle-Chain lay restrained on a gurney, unconscious and securely fastened.
The van started moving, and the city's lights blurred into a river of neon and darkness. The hum of the engine was a lullaby, and despite the pain and the blood that still clung to my skin, a sense of calm began to take hold. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over me, knowing that tomorrow was another day, another battle.
"That guy from the mech," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet. "What's the status on him?"
Sergeant Duke glanced at me, then nodded. "We've got an APB out for him. By this time tomorrow, he'll be in custody. No way he slips through our net."
One of the SWAT guys, a burly man with a jovial face, chimed in, "Hey, new guy. You got a name? Or should we just call you 'the guy who saved our asses'?"
I managed a chuckle, though it felt strained. "Nothing solid yet. "
"Well, Mystery Man," the SWAT guy continued, grinning, "You ever think about getting a costume? Maybe something with a cape?"
The team laughed, and I forced a smile, though internally I struggled with the light-hearted banter. My mind was still reeling from the intensity of the fight and the bloodshed. It felt surreal to be here, sharing jokes with these seasoned officers.
Sergeant Duke leaned in, his expression thoughtful. "You know that was some impressive heroing back there."
"Honestly, this was my..." I shifted uncomfortably, remembering the court room, "First time, I've never done anything like this before."
Duke laughed, a warm, hearty sound. "First time? You sure as hell don't fight like a rookie."
I glanced at him, confused. "Well, I do spar every now and then."
"You took down two orange-level threats on your first outing," Duke corrected, shaking his head in disbelief. "That exosuit could have easily taken out a few city blocks. And Muscle-Chain and Ingenia? They're no joke. You saved a lot of lives tonight."
"But the damage... all the chaos." I thought out loud.
Duke shook his head firmly. "Imagine if that bank robber had gone on a killing spree after, or if Ingenia decided to cut the throats of every pedestrian out on a walk tonight. Hypotheticals aside, all those men and women held hostage. They're alive because of you. That's what matters."
A few minutes passed in contemplative silence. The weight of Duke's words began to settle, but a nagging thought gnawed at me.
"I know she was a crazy terrorist out for blood," I said finally, my voice tinged with doubt. "But she kept goading me. Almost desperate for me to kill her. Sergeant, you couldn't see but..."
Duke's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.
"During the fight," I explained, "it felt like she wanted me to end her. Like she was taunting me, pushing me to kill her. It reminded me of how Cerebellum used to mess with people's heads, manipulate them, control them."
Duke leaned back, his gaze distant as he considered my words. "Cerebellum's been locked up in The Balk for years. No reports of escape or any funny business. But if Ingenia was trying to get into your head... that sounds like something he'd do. Psychological warfare. Maybe she learned a few tricks from him."
The van's engine hummed steadily as we approached The Balk, the supermax prison looming in the distance like a fortress. The sense of unease lingered, but Duke's reassurance gave me some comfort.
My eyes lingered on one of the spare tactical outfits beneath the bench opposite me.
"Hey, Duke." I bent over, reaching for the attire, "You mind?"
"Lost in the fight." He shook his head.
"Thanks." I replied back as I grabbed the set.
I climbed into the skin-tight underlayer, finally more clothes than my sweats that more resembled a speedo than pants. I pulled the face part up from my neck and over my nose. Then, I buttoned the uniform shirt and zipped on the cargo trousers. I exchanged my stained goggles for a ballistic helmet with a face shield.
Suddenly, Muscle-Chain began to stir on the gurney, his eyes fluttering open. He looked around, disoriented and confused, his voice raspy as he started to speak.
"Wher- who- what... Where's the other Alley Knights? Where's Ingenia? Why am I in a SWAT van? Why'sa restraints and tha gurney?" He groaned, clutching his head. "Why do I feel like I lost a fight to a train?"
"Easy there, big fella," I said, trying to keep my tone calm and reassuring. "You tried to kill us."
"What? I'd never do that," Muscle-Chain replied, his voice filled with genuine confusion.
"Great, he's crazy," Duke muttered, shaking his head.
One of the other SWAT guys added, "Looks like someone got their wires crossed."
Muscle-Chain's eyes darted around, panic setting in. "Where is my babe? Where is my Ingenia?"
I glanced at Sergeant Duke, silently asking him to take over. I was too exhausted for a long series of explanations. Duke nodded, understanding my unspoken request.
"Alright, listen up," Duke began, his voice authoritative. "You were involved in an attack at the bank. Ingenia was there too. We had to restrain you because you were a threat to everyone around you."
Muscle-Chain's eyes welled up with tears, and he started sobbing uncontrollably. The sound of his grief filled the van, a raw, heartbreaking wail that cut through the tension like a knife.
Internally, I berated myself. This was exactly what I had wanted to avoid—people losing their loved ones. If only I had been faster, stronger. If only I had noticed the bomb sooner. If only...
Duke interrupted my thoughts, noticing the scowl on my face. "I know that look, kid. Self-hate, self-pity. Don't go down that path. It's deadly."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Muscle-Chain," I said softly, "What do you remember?"
Muscle-Chain sniffled, trying to pull himself together. "I remember waking up at the Alley Knights HQ. We had a meeting, trying to scout a new leader to replace Private Eye. Ingenia and I grabbed lunch without Orbweaver. Then Ingenia asked me to walk her... well, we walked... she said she needed something... I-I can't remember. No, Orbweaver wanted us to restart our mock combat practices. We were supposed to just head back to the base. We left the restaurant and headed south, we got in an... Did she know...?"
His voice broke again as he started crying. "Did she know I still loved her?"
The van filled with his anguished cries. I leaned over to Sergeant Duke, whispering, "This isn't the man I fought."
Duke nodded, his expression grim. "He's not in his right mind. Something's off."
We whispered back and forth, discussing Muscle-Chain's current state, his memories, his fight, his hero record. Finally, I began to put my thoughts into words. "I think... they were under the influence of something. Mind control, drugs, anything. But this man cannot be guilty of his actions. Sergeant! The bomb Ingenia used, it was the same as the one used in the subway attack."
Duke's eyes widened. "Whoa, son. Use your words."
"Ingenia used the same bomb that Misconductor used in his suicide attack," I said, my voice steady. "And that's not all. Ingenia looked remorseful right after she triggered the bomb, and Misconductor's last words... he said he was sorry."
Duke looked at me, his expression serious. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
I leaned down, shaking Muscle-Chain gently. "Hey. Focus. Where did you go? Where did you two walk? What did you do? Who killed your girlfriend?"
Muscle-Chain's eyes fluttered, and he passed out again, leaving the rest of the ride filled with murmurs of a big threat. Someone or something was making super people blow themselves up.
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