Danger Kid

Epilogue

 Mr. Cane sits comfortably, his cluttered desk separating him and Brittany. Despite the few feet of separation, the two somehow seemed to instantly bond upon meeting. They'd talked for a while, Mr. Cane interrogating Brittany about most aspects of her life. He'd been particularly interested in her adopted father and his treatment of Brittany. They'd also discussed her hobbies, the years she had spent in school, and other personal matters.

The two had now reached a slow point in their conversation. They were left only to smile at one another. It wasn't awkward for either party, the lack of conversation. Rather they felt like two old friends who were just spending some time together, even though they had just met.

Eventually Mr. Cane broke the silence.

"Brittany, when your father said he wanted you to come into Gauntlet today, it wasn't just to talk with me. It was because we called you in, and we have a couple matters we need to discuss with you."

"Ok." says Brittany.

"First, where is Adam?"

"I don't know."

"Where did you last see him?"

"I dropped him off on the side of the highway, and he ran away."

"You do realize he is a fugitive? Gauntlet would very much like to bring him in. Interrogate him."

"But not just interrogate him, right? You want to put him away, forever. He'd never leave Gauntlet, would he, at least legally?"

"You could be right Brittany."

"Well I don't know where he went."

"I bet you don't." Says Tag. He winks briefly. A knowing wink. Then he smiles, as if to say, I respect your resolution to protect your friend, and I won't push this matter any further. Or at least that's how Brittany interpreted the wink.

"Is that all you really wanted from me? As much as I have enjoyed our conversation, it was like, a really long drive up here, compa." says Brittany. Her voice is happy, teasing, not actually complaining. She didn't really mind coming up here at all. For the first time in her life she'd been allowed inside Gauntlet. She'd explored its halls and been surrounded by real life heroes. She'd spent most of the time imagining she was one of Gauntlet's agents.

"Well, no Brittany. We have one other matter to attend to. Your father submitted to us some footage. Your, uh, Smack Pack? It had a camera attached. From the time you entered the base until you were captured by that deviant in the armor, we saw everything you did. It was quite impressive."

"Oh stop." says Brittany almost giggling. If she were able, she probably would have blushed.

"No really. Not only are you extremely talented, but you seem to have been blessed. Perhaps you have some offshoot of deviation? Or something else." says Mr. Cane.

It's weird, thinks Brittany. Mr. Cane says all this in a voice that suggests he knows more than he's letting on. Maybe it was how he had emphasized the words or something else. As if he knew what that something else could be. But Brittany has little time to think about it. Mr. Cane is still talking.

"Brittany, you have something none of our agents has. You are completely indestructible, and you are uninfluenced by The Call. I'll not beat around the bush. We'd like you to sign on with Gauntlet. As a junior agent, at least until we promote you, that is."

---

Brittany drives, far faster than she should.

Brittany can't help but laugh, loudly. Her dream came true! She'd become a real life, legit, professional hero. Wait until she told daddy! He'd be ecstatic, but she suspected he already knew, since he was the one who submitted the footage to Gauntlet.