Save State Hero -Ch10- (Patreon)

“She’s meeting us at HQ?” asked Dorothy.

“Yeah. Romina prefers getting things done at Legion locations. When she goes out in public she’s had to be careful about stream crashers,” Edmund said as he eased the car into the false barn. “That and she gets to showcase rather odd things.”

He’d gone ahead and finally moved the timeline up again. After spending cumulatively about five days in resets and reloads he came to the conclusion that whatever happened with his sister, wasn’t something he could get in front of.

One day she was fine, and the next she wasn’t.

There was no inbetween and no matter which way he approached it, he never figured out the when, or what. Only that it occurred on the same day, but never at the same time.

If he tried to push in on when it happened, it didn’t.

Though worse things happened.

Like being arrested when his parents had called the cops when he burst into the house to figure out what was going on.

In the end, there wasn’t anything he could do for the time being.

He felt a bit morose about it, but that was just how it was for now.

“Or show off people or creatures that’d never been seen before or only thought up as fantasies and stories,” Edmund continues. “Even I’m still amazed sometimes at how different the world is than what I knew it for.

“At lesat what I thought I knew it for, I guess. I mean… the world is alive. I’ve met her. Her names Gaia.”

Dorothy laughed at that and nodded her head slowly. Looking around at the false barn interior as the door closed behind them.

Then the whole floor began to lower down into the earth. The room was one large elevator that led into the garage where all vehicles were kept for the motor-pool team to work on.

Working for a Super Villain is always interesting.

And surprising.

“I get that. There’s a lot of ways the world turns out to be far different than what you expected,” mused Dorothy. “Especially when you get involved with the likes of Ryker or Runner.”

“I’ve heard that name but I don’t think I’ve met him,” Edmund remarked as the elevator came to a stop. They were now in the motor-pool garage.

“If you don’t have to, you probably shouldn’t. If you think Ryker or Felix are people to avoid, Runner is like an actual black hole. Not someone you want to casually bump up against,” Dorothy advised. “Things get pretty strange pretty fast with him.”

Edmund raised his eyebrows at that.

He wasn’t surprised though, he was more curious.

Interested.

Given what he could do with his power, running into powerful people was more an opportunity than a concern. Especially if he could prep a bit for it.

“Err… isn’t that Romina?” Dorothy asked.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Edmund looked up.

Sure enough, Romina was standing near the booth that held all the keys, paperwork, and where one went to get a car.

An Andrea was inside and casually staring into a phone only a foot away from her face. Not far away was Romina, watching him as he pulled the car around into a parking spot.

There was an odd smile on her face as her eyes moved back and forth from Dorothy and Edmund. As if looking for something else entirely.

It took him a moment to realize she was looking for Alina. Looking for her and couldn’t seem to find her.

With Romina, he had a really good sense of just how she felt.

Right now, he’d wager on what Romina was feeling exactly. He knew her so well that he was positive that she was relieved but also frustrated that Alina wasn’t there.

Despite the fact that she looked anything but either of those right now.

Before he could even think about what to do about it, the phone rang.

There was also an overhead ringing from the internal speakers in the garage.

It looked like Romina’s phone was ringing as well.

Frowning, Edmund looked to the dash.

“Who’s Tribune?” asked Dorothy. “I’ve never heard that name before.”

“It’s the VI that helps Legion keep on track,” answered Edmund feeling very concerned now.

He tapped the accept call button.

“Legionnaire Edmund, you’re receiving this call as we’re activating an emergency battle drill to be carried out at this moment. Utilize the train stations to get to your battle station as soon as possible,” stated Tribune. Her voice was cold, flat, and without much inflection at all. “Please take this as an actual emergency as it may in fact be, and not practice. Remain on emergency alert for four hours and twenty-nine minutes. Thank you.”

“Sounds like there won’t be an interview,” Dorothy surmised.

Edmund nodded his head, feeling very strange about the situation.

They hadn’t had an emergency action like this in quite a while.

Which meant Tribune suspected something was going to happen in the very near future.

“Yeah… no interview,” Edmund agreed with some dismay.

Regardless of the rejection, he still wanted to spend time with Romina. The interview had been equal parts concern and enthusiasm for him.

Fear of the topic of his rejected date request coming up yet also getting to be in Romina’s proximity.

An ugly and awkward feeling to be sure.

“Alright. Off to the train station then. We’ve been given approval so… time to use it,” Edmund stated and looked to Dorothy. “It doesn’t always function the way Felix wants and sometimes it just shuts off, so usage of it is a bit questionable. Maybe he finally got it running well.”

Or maybe Andrea stopped crashing them.

“Sounds fun. I’ve never been on a train,” Dorothy replied with a wide smile. “This has all been rather eye-opening and enjoyable. I’m glad to be here.”

Huh… that’s kinda odd.

Isn’t it?

Feels more and more like she’s from a country even my own upbringing would likely consider rough. As strange as that seems.

***

Looking up at the TV above him, Edmund couldn’t help but stare at Felix.

His boss was sitting in what looked like the proverbial “hot seat” and was being questioned by politicians. The camera flicking from him, to those questioning him, and back again.

Unendingly.

“— not really my place to say,” Felix stated clearly. “I’m not a politician, nor am I technically a part of the legal authority of this country. I’m a third party contractor that’s working on behalf of Legion and the Association.

“I can only speak to that, what it entails to that, and how it would change or effect our procedures.”

“Well, he speaks very well,” Dorothy murmured, looking down from the TV and to Edmund.

“He does,” Alina agreed with a grunt.

She’d ended up returning this morning, nervous that she’d missed something the day before and looking somewhat fatigued at the same time. Dorothy and Edmund both had told them of how they sat for hours at a security checkpoint doing absolutely nothing.

Until Tribune dismissed everyone from the drill stating that it was indeed just a practice drill. Then sending everyone performance results.

“I mean, that’s what he does. He talks and directs. He’s a CEO,” replied Edmund, also looking away from the TV.

“Kinda funny to watch a CEO give a deposition in full armor,” Alina countered with a low chuckle. “But also speaks volumes to the power he holds since they can’t get him to take it off.”

“Right? It’s almost too fucking funny,” Edmund said with a laugh, leaning back in his chair. They were currently waiting in the train station beneath the HQ. Tribune had everyone standing in a ready position.

The AI was dead-set and determined that something was going to happen.

“What were they gonna do? Show up with a can-opener and kindly ask him to hold still?” Alina rasped out while laughing. “Ah… whatever. Not really our problem I guess. They’re just humans.”

“You’re human,” Dorothy murmured, turning to look at Alina.

Alina rolled her eyes, shrugged her shoulders, then looked to Edmund. It was obviously a conversation they’d had more than once. A conversation she wasn’t interested in having in front of Edmund.

“Anyways. Yeah, what else were they supposed to do? Is there anyone or anything that could actually stand up to him?” Alina asked.

“Well, the Guild of Heroes could probably give him a problem or three,” Edmund mused. “But their people don’t seem in a rush to mess around with us. I get the impression he’s moved way more pieces in the background than we’re aware of.

“Given that it’s Felix, it’s obvious he’s involved with them. It’s just how he is. Same is true for the League of Villains.”

“That makes sense,” Dorothy murmured. Then she sat up straight and reached to her side. “Oh, that reminds me. I wanted to show you this and get your opinion. I thought it was rather amusing and well done.”

“Your sense of humor sucks, Dot,” accused Dot.

“Says the grumpy neck-biter,” countered the sorceress. “Ah, here we go. Check it out.”

Dorothy set down her cell phone between the three of them. Then she reached over and tapped the play button.

The very over-used and almost universally known “tango” song began playing. The violins starting off from the high point of the song.

The interior of the store Edmund and Alina had been in faded up from a black screen to a black and white still frame.

There was a great deal of commotion going on in the background, but you couldn’t quite see what was going on. There was obviously things happening though.

Alina and Edmund stepped into the bottom of the frame.

Slowly they walked into view until Edmund grabbed her suddenly. Causing Alina to look right at him and press in close.

The video burst out with color from that moment and hit the classic “ba-bum-dum-dum” beat.

As Edmund began pulling Alina along through the aisles, forcing her around the video had been edited to provide a lot of after effects. Where the sudden starts and stops he subjected her to were pronounced with a flash of golden light.

Only for it to end with her tossing her out then bringing her back. The move looking far too suave even as he then knocked away a fireball and put an arm around her.

Except from this viewpoint it really did look like the final move in a dance, rather than how he pictured it in his memory.

It also had an amazing view of Alina’s face.

Wide eyed, staring at Edmund, hands clutched into his shirt. The helmet fell away from his hand.

“See? It’s kinda funny,” Dorothy said with a soft chuckle. “I especially liked how Alina’s power flared every time you came to a stop. It almost made it look like it was edited in. Then again, maybe that’s what made them want to put the music in as well.”

Err, that wasn’t editing, but just how she is?

Interesting.

Maybe I pushed my luck a lot further than I thought I did originally.

Alina let out a soft sigh and shook her head but said nothing.

A single loud buzz filled the train station. It carried on for five seconds before it finally died away.

Edmund pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked to the screen after waking it up.

“Proceed to Association station. A route marker will be provided from there,” read the Encampment app in a notification.

“Looks like I’m moving north,” Edmund murmured, then looked to the two women sitting across from him.

“We. We’re moving north,” Dorothy corrected.

“We,” agreed Alina.

Edmund clicked his tongue, then looked to the next message below that one. It was from Romina and had come in only a second ago.

She was currently reporting from where Felix was and doing a stream of the event. Mostly for Legion publicity but also because she’d be able to provide access that no one else could

He hesitated for a moment then opened the message. If he left it unread there was always the possibility of her getting annoyed at him, and he didn’t want that.

Hey! Looks like everyone is being mobilized. You should be careful.

No need to do anything stupid or whatever.

You don’t have to play the hero so just keep your head down.

Edmund smirked, shook his head, and then sighed. He knew that it was likely she was just being kind to him, but he could easily misinterpret the reasoning of her messages.

Unfortunately he’d mistaken kindness for interest in the past.

I won’t be alone so it won’t be a problem.

I’m sure I’ll be fine and able to handle anything that comes my way.

I’ll be careful though.

Then he sent the message, stuck his phone into his pocket, and moved to the train he needed to board.

Alina and Dorothy were right behind him.

The former seemed like she was building up in excitement, while the latter seemed to be getting more and more comfortable. As if tension to her was an old friend that she’d known a long time.

Edmund didn’t care one way or the other.

All he needed was to make sure he didn’t immediately die, and he could keep trying to fix a situation. To keep looking for a solution.

Just as he planned to do with his sister.

He just needed more information in the future, then he’d go back to the save he had just before she tried to push him out. To see if he could undo the problem from there and go through this point in time all over again.

Boarding the train the three of them sat down near one another. Alina stuck her head to the wall and closed her eyes. It looked like she fell asleep instantly.

Dorothy on the other hand was excitedly looking around.

He wasn’t quite sure what she expected to see since they were underground.

There wouldn’t be much to do till they got where they were going.

The train started moving and Alina’s eyes blinked open before rotating his way.

Dorothy turned to look at him at the same time.

“I want to ask you questions about Romina,” Dorothy started, a strange smile curling her lips.

Great.

***

“Err… there’s really nothing?” Alina asked as the sounds of them getting comfortable in their seats died away.

“Yeap,” Edmund confirmed, looking to his phone.

They’d taken the instructions verbatim.

Exiting the train, going to the motorpool, and getting into a specific car that already had the keys in the ignition.

After that, there was nothing else.

“Odd,” Dorothy murmured, brushing her fingers across her blouse in the front passenger seat. Then she let out a huffed breath and looked to Alina. “You’re okay to be here?”

Alina and Dorothy stared at each other for several seconds before Alina shrugged her shoulders.

“I mean… I’d be told if I wasn’t?” she offered and then laughed. “Ryker’d just show up and be like, ‘okay kiddo, time to go’.”

For some reason, Edmund looked away from Alina and then to the surrounding area. He had a weird feeling like Ryker would show up.

He didn’t, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t felt that way.

“Ohhh nooo,” his phone declared.

Grumbling, Edmund reached into his pocket and fished out his phone. Looking to the front of it he was it was a call from Faith.

Hitting the accept key, he put it to his ear.

“Hey,” he said.

“Edmund, good. Who do you have with you?” Faith asked.

“Consultants,” he answered somewhat cagily. He really didn’t like talking on the phone anymore. He really preferred texts and emails through the encampment app.

“Okay. Things just went insane. I’m sending you off to be at a point of concern for me. This time I’m making sure a squad of Legionnaires is with you, as well as a Dryad,” laid out Faith. It sounded like she was using a headset or a blue-tooth speaker rather than holding the phone to her head. “Go there, secure the area, make sure the Association’s laws are respected. Heroes and Villains are battling at keypoints so there’s going to be casualties. We’re there to make sure those are minimized as low as possible. Hurt who you have to to make sure those laws are respected.

“Questions? Concerns? Anything you need answered?”

Edmund could swear he could hear gunfire and screaming in the background.

Something really was going down.

“Uh, no. Not really. You more or less gave me everything,” Edmund answered. “Anything else you need from me?”

“No,” Faith said, and then hung up.

The call had been less than a minute long.

Less than half a minute, really.

“Well, that was… brief,” Dorothy drawled.

“Did we get orders or are we going to sit and stare at each other in a car. Cause that’d make Dorothy happy but I’d get bored. Third wheels aren’t fun. Being one or having one,” Alina said acidicly.

“Thankfully we did, just waiting for it to let me know where we’re going,” Edmund replied. Then his phone pinged.

A location popped up on his phone.

“Can I drive? I’d like to drive. Please. I’d really like to drive,” Dorothy requested.

“It’s fine, I’ll drive safe and normal. I… that was a mistake last time,” Edmund promised.

He still wasn’t quite sure why he felt so compelled to drive as fast and as hard as he had. Part of him was wondering if he hadn’t been as over the rejection with Romina as he’d thought.

That maybe given the opportunity to throw caution and danger to the wind, to escape his thoughts, he’d taken it. Taken it and quite literally ran.

Really wasn’t as ready as I thought I was, was I? Wasn’t ready at all.

Even though I played out time as far as I did, wasn’t ready.

Some things just change us and we can’t escape them.

Turning the key, Edmund tried to keep his thoughts on the task at hand. He had another job to do.

Another task to take care of in his super-villain organization.

Always an adventure. Always something different.