The Temporary Hero by Nick Svolos

Author:Nick Svolos [Svolos, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-14T04:00:00+00:00

XI

The briefing room was on the forty-second floor of the Angel Tower, and Patty’s quarters were on the thirty-sixth. Using the emergency stairwell, we made it in seconds. For people with superpowers, the stairwell was a heck of a lot faster than any elevator. The only thing that slowed us down was when we passed the thirty-ninth floor security center. The team’s civilian security staff were doing what people of their caliber do in a situation like that—racing toward danger.

Herculene shouted, “Make a hole!” and bounded past them. My own flight path was a little more clear-cut. I slalomed between the landings and ended up ahead of her.

I heard screams coming from the Blackburn’s floor. Wails of terror and loss. I opened the fire door a little too hard. In my haste, I failed to account for my strength and velocity, and the darn thing came off its hinges and slammed into the far wall. Damn. Another lecture from Ultiman was probably already on its way. At least my noisy entrance came with one beneficial side-effect: Florence Blackburn stopped panicking and pressing the elevator-bank’s down button. I took advantage of the momentary break in her hysteria.

“Mrs. Blackburn, what happened?”

“I-I don’t know!” she sobbed. “She was in her room and the alarms went off and she wasn’t there and the elevator won’t work and—” The terrified mother continued, growing more agitated as she went back to mashing the elevator button.

I heard Herculene bound past us, on her way to Patty. Through the comms, her calm voice ordered, “Keep her there, Archangel. She’s in no condition to help.” The AI confirmed her compliance with the warrior goddess’ orders.

“How’s the stasis field working?” I asked as I ran to the bedroom. The kid had been doing so well. Something had to have triggered this episode. I prayed we’d figure it out in time.

“She’s descending at a rate of two inches per second. I don’t think I can increase the power anymore without risking damage to her.” The computer sounded frustrated. “I lack the necessary data to calibrate the field properly.”

I tried to keep my voice calm as I searched the bed. Patty’s clothing sat on top of the bed, left behind as she phased through it. It reminded me of a chalk outline. “Keep at it, Archangel, you’re doing great.”

Finally, I found something. Patty’s smartphone. She’d been texting someone—somebody named Kyle. While Herculene’s voice came over the communicator, trying to talk sense to Patty, I started to read.

Ah, hell. Seriously?

I dropped the phone on the bed and trotted back to the stairwell. “Herc? I found out what this is about. Her boyfriend just broke up with her.”

In my ear, Herculene muttered something unladylike and quite a bit saltier than her usual cursing fare.

“Thanks, Cap. I need you on the next floor down in case I can’t get through to her.”

“I’m on it.” I started down the stairwell to Suave’s quarters while Herculene tried to explain how this guy wasn’t worth it. This will get better.

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