Paragon

Chapter 24:

Xavia walked back towards the lab, ignoring the crowds of people around her. Her injuries had already disappeared, but her confusion had not. The Paragon man knew her. The emotion in his eyes when he'd torn off her mask was one she didn't recognize.

Her phone rang and she answered it. It was Cane.

"I see that you don't have the human with you." He said.

His voice was deadly calm.

"You're certainly have good eyes." She paused. "One of the few things I can say about you that isn't negative."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. He was just a human. Nothing special. You can find the same thing anywhere."

"I told you to bring him back. Get back to the lab. Now."

Xavia hung up on him.

A moment later her phone rang again. She answered it.

"Xavia, what are you doing?" Falcom asked.

"Nothing at all." She replied.

"Come home."

"On my way."

She started running, knocking several people down. A car pulled in front of her and she jumped over it, putting out a hand to steady herself. It smashed the hood and the car screeched to a stop. The car behind it rammed into the trunk, but Xavia was already gone.

She climbed over the lab gate with ease, dropping down on the other side. She calmly rode the elevator up to the top floor of the building, ignoring the stares from the people in it with her. She got out and opened the door to Cane's office without even glancing at the secretary beside it.

Inside awere Falcom, Jinx, and Cane.

"Are you alright?" Falcom asked her, indicating her torn coat.

"I had a run in with several Paragons." She replied. "Nothing too serious."

Cane got up from behind his desk and walked over to her. He moved back his hand to slap her, but Falcom cleared his throat.

"Really wouldn't do that." He said. "She's got a hair trigger temper and super strength."

Cane slowly lowered his arm. "I thought she was supposed to follow my orders."

"I don't follow anyone's orders." Xavia snapped.

"I told you she was trouble." Jinx said.

"Shut up." Cane said. "Falcom, I'm sending you two to Paris."

"Cool." Falcom said. "I always wanted to see the City of Love."

"You're responsible for her." He nodded at Xavia. "She's already caused enough trouble. Anymore and we might have to...decommission her." He started for the door, pausing beside her. "Listen, Xavia, or whatever you call yourself, you'd better not pull anything like this again. I turned torture into an art form. I created pain. Now I know you don't usually feel it, but I promise you that I will find a way to hurt you. Behave, or else."

He walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Instantly Falcom picked up a lamp from the table beside him and threw it against the door.

"I hate him." He said. "He treats me like I'm still a kid. And he treats you like you're a dog, Xavia."

"Can I kill him?" Xavia asked. "I think I can make it to the parking lot before him."