In Hero Years... I'm Dead Deluxe Edition by Michael Stackpole

Author:Michael Stackpole [Stackpole, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormwolf.com
Published: 2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Kim Coughlin’s skeleton nearly jumped clear of his body when he flicked the lights on. Golden Guardian, all suited up, sat on my left. He’d kicked back in a chair, his helmet off and an unlit Cohiba tucked into the corner of his mouth. Graviton sat on my right, closing a book. Despite the darkness, he’d been reading. What little infra-vision he had left let him read the heat coming up off black ink.

I sat centered against the work-bench. “We decided to wait for you inside.”

The abandoned CRAWL station made for a great lair. Two stories tall, white tiles, a working bathroom and access to electricity the city would never miss, it was prime superhero real estate. Kim had cut his own entrance through the foundation of the apartment house above and had taking the precaution of blocking the other entrances.

He’d done a good job, which is why I’d needed help to get in.

Kim glanced at the scattered barricade by the original entrance. “How did you…”

Terry pressed the tip of the cigar to the laser projector in the palm of his glove. “Nice welding job, kid. You’ll do it better next time.”

Kim descended. A good looking kid despite his having gone pale, he took the steps carefully. “Is it really you?”

I did the honors. “Golden Guardian. Graviton. This is Kid Coyote.”

Grant smiled easily. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Me, too, kid.”

Kim raised an eyebrow. “And you’d be…”

“I’m here to collect the rent.” I looked around. “Of all my lairs, I liked this one the best.”

His jaw dropped. “What? You? I mean…”

I held up both hands. “Take it easy, Kim. Breathe. Sit down.”

“You even know who I am.” The young man dropped his gym-bag at the base of the steps, then sat. He combed brown hair back nervously, his blue-eyed gaze flicking from Graviton to Golden Guardian and back.

“Oh my God.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t, you know… I mean, I can fix everything.”

“Again, take it easy. We’re not here to bust your balls.” I stood and smiled, pointing toward the armory cabinet, just past the rocket bike. “The supply is a little depleted, isn’t it?”

“I’ve been making some of my own stuff, but I haven’t had a chance to replace the motor on the lathe. It burned out a month ago, but I’ll fix it.”

Terry perked up. “You were actually turning metal on that old Hutchinson? A new Vecktech Meson-lathe 440 would do you so much better.”

“I’m saving up. Blue and I–Blue Ninja, I mean–are gonna team up some more.” Kim shook his head. “I can’t believe this. Is that really Graviton? He’s back from the other dimension? Did he win the war?”

Grant nodded confidently. “Almost finished. I’m doing a favor.”

Kid Coyote looked at me. “Why are you here?”

I shrugged. “Why Kid Coyote?”

He glanced down at his hands. “I grew up wanting to be a hero. There are schools, you know, but my family didn’t have money. I didn’t have grades either, but I knew I could be one.

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