Recursion by Marion G. Harmon

Author:Marion G. Harmon [Harmon, Marion G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-17T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

If-Man said no. Of course he said no. Shell pointed out that while Ozma and Brian were only third years they couldn’t be required to return to Hillwood, or to any school for that matter. Called, the Headmaster said Hillwood could expel them if they didn’t return. Ozma sweetly suggested that expulsion would be unwise. Brian kept his mouth shut, but I knew he wasn’t going anywhere; I’d named the Ascendant as his family’s killer, and he wasn’t going to miss a chance to rip him into pieces too small to identify outside of a lab. His target being a mass-murdering breakthrough supremacist supervillain, I couldn’t disagree with his ambition. Though I’d try to thwart it; I wasn’t going to let Brian become a murderer.

Negotiations complete—Ozma and Brian were on a “field-study” outing and had to be back in a week—Shell put on a bellhop’s outfit and issued out Dome epads to direct them to their guest rooms. I walked If-Man, Brandon, and Alecia out and upstairs where a car waited for them. A car with a police and DSA escort that would make sure they got to the airport quickly and safely.

I stopped them at the doors before handing them over, shook If-Man and Brian’s hands, and hugged Alecia.

“You guys, what you did tonight? You might not think that you made a difference, but you did. My speech today—Atlas and Ajax would have liked you. A lot. But this—” I waved my hand at the shattered Atrium. “This isn’t . . .”

“We know, we heard what you said.” Brandon finished for me.

Alecia nodded. “This isn’t what superheroing is about. Right?”

“Not mostly. It’s just, helping. The greater good, arête. Well, that and the costumes!” I added cheerfully, hugging her again. Myst nipped at my wig. “If you need to talk about anything you saw tonight, anything, you know, just call. Now fly safe!”

Getting out of the way of the doors, I let them join their waiting escorts. When they disappeared into the night I took a breath and headed back downstairs. “Shell, have you got me an office?”

“And a kitsune to go with it. On the Base Level.” When I stepped out of the elevator and turned past Laconic Bob’s wrecked lobby station she highlighted a door at the end of the hall.

“She’s in there?”

“Yup.”

“Good.” I opened the door to the room next to it. A supply closet. Good enough. Closing the door behind me, I sat on a box of cleaning stuff, tucked my cape around me, and put my head on my knees.

“Hope?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you doing?”

I sniffed. “I’m not crying, throwing up, screaming, or flying to Australia. Australia’s nice this time of year. No snow.”

“Oh. Okay . . . I mean, yeah, no snow, but they’ve got these enormous toxic spiders and, you know, sharks and . . .”

I choked on a laugh, raised my head. “Thanks, Shell. Check with Veritas? If Flash Mob recognized Eric in the fight then Agent G’s at risk, and he’d be more useful here if Veritas will let us have him.

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