Hero Stalker

Part Twelve

I gasped in pain. My eyes flew open, and I barely glimpsed the six Centurions all staring at me before I rolled over and tossed up my oatmeal

"Slasher!" Femme said. "Uncalled for!"

"Everything's called for out on the street. She's not qualified to be a combat operative. She can't stand on the front line between one and a half million people and the psychopaths who want to burn down this city. I say we boot her."

I straightened up and wiped off my mouth. I still couldn't get enough air into my lungs. Throw me out? I knew they had discretion over who they chose for the team, but still . . .

"I can learn," I mumbled. "I want to join you." A phrase from the Centurion Oath popped into my head. "I want to stand against evil."

Femme shot Peregrine a worried look. Cypher bit his lip. Pulse cracked up. Pain flickered across Slasher's face. "You don't know evil."

"When I was six years old, I watched Dark Justice and Scars duel on my street-"

"You don't know evil. And if you did, you'd use those powers you stole from me to run for your life."

Everything went quiet. I'd dreamed of this moment a thousand times and I'd never once considered I'd get superpowers and still not be wanted. That I'd end up like one of the Darryls of the world.

"Enough!" Femme said. "Slasher, you've had plenty of chances to pick a successor you like. You've turned down candidate after candidate citing insufficient powers. By definition, her powers are sufficient. You can't turn her down."

"Unless I cite incompetence to serve. I'm citing it."

"That's not fair. She's untrained. Give her some time. Two weeks."

Slasher folded his arms and leant back against the wall of memorabilia. Harbinger's velvet mask lay behind him. I held my breath as he continued. "Harpy might not have powers, but he's got crazy to spare. The DA's threatening to charge the henchmen with attempted murder, and they're still not talking. Hardened criminals with multiple felony convictions. He scares them shitless. This one won't be easy. I need to stop him soon."

"Take her with you." Femme's eyes narrowed.

"I can do it!" I said.

Slasher guffawed. "You really think you can do it? Come after Harpy with me? Fine. Next time I get a lead, I'll cut you in. And if we don't catch the bastard by Harbor Day, you hang up your mask for good. Got that?"

My mind raced. Harbor Day was the Saturday after next. I thought through all the stats I'd memorized. What was the average time between a Centurion's installation and first capture? All the dates and numbers blended together in my head. I tried to do the math-

"Tick tock, sweetheart. If we were in the field, we'd all be dead by now."

"I'll do it!" I blurted out. "I won't slow you down. I'll do whatever you tell me."

Femme sighed. "Fine, Slasher. You get your conditions. I get to lead you through the online training protocol workshop."

"I've done it four times," he said.

"You need a refresher. Peregrine, take my jet and bring our new friend home. We can fit her for a costume tomorrow."

Peregrine reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "Come on, let's get you back home. Rome wasn't built in a day."

No, but your whole life can change in half an hour.