Page 38 of Breathless Recruiter

He shook his head. “I have to stay and protect them.” He gestured to the crowd of socialites staring up at us. “We just cleared out a room full of heroes to take care of a citywide threat. That couldn’t be a coincidence.”

I still had difficulty understanding this hunch humans used to guide their decisions. They’d claim it was something in their gut guiding them. I had a picture of a little gremlin that provided directions. Did all humans have a latent psychic ability?

The longer we waited, the further the heroes got from the building. At this rate, we’d be lucky if we could spot them. I wanted to argue with Dustin, but he made no move to join our compatriots. If I didn’t go, I’d look like the scaredy cat hanging back. In front of Dustin, I wanted to prove I had what it took to be a hero… arealhero.

“I need to?—”

Glass shattered, and steel beams whined as something burst through the side of the building. No, not something, somebody.

“We’ve been tricked,” Discord said.

Yeah, and I fell for it.

My fist smashed against the flying concrete, pulverizing it into tiny rocks. We didn’t have time for the dust to settle. The brute had dug up chunks of the floor to hurl at the crowd.

“Drew and Orion, get everybody to safety.”

In true Vanguard fashion, the onlookers remained frozen in place. A handful ran screaming, but the rest gawked as if they had front-row seats to this summer’s blockbuster movie. We could either keep them safe or stop the bad guy, but doing both was nearly impossible.

As another rock flew, Discord screeched. His supersonic abilities transformed the threat into dust. With the rest of the heroes chasing decoys, we were the only two suited and ready for… a fight? I thought about snatching citizens and flying them to safety. It’d put distance between us and the thing stomping its way through the building.

“Well, this isn’t good.”

Dustin had a knack for understatements. I recognized Titan from his profile on the HeroApp™, but it didn’t do his gargantuan size justice. I rarely had to look up to people, but he had to be at least eight feet. The dark purple leather with stripes of green highlighted the glowing gem in the middle of his forehead. If I recall, it granted him super strength. I wish I had a moment to study his profile and see if it had any notes on how to defeat him.

Dustin and I hovered in the air, the last line of defense between Titan and the people refusing to leave. I drifted closer to Dustin as I debated our next move. My hands had gone sweaty, and I wanted to turn and run. Titan had a reputation, and if anybody could put my invulnerability to the test, it would behim. At the same time, I didn’t want Dustin to think of me as a coward.

“Mr. Supreme,” he growled. “I was hoping you’d be here.”

I pointed at myself. “Why do you want me?”

“I didn’t ask.” He flexed and let out a roar that shook the unbroken windows. “Fight me!”

“Somebody orchestrated this,” Dustin said. He’d have to talk to Orion and see his corkboard of conspiracies. “We can figure that out once he’s in handcuffs.” Of course, Dustin wanted to confront the man.

“I’m not sure I can take him,” I whispered.

“You’re not alone.” He shot me that infamous smile. “You’ve got a sidekick now.”

My hands tightened into balls. The whirlwind of emotion in my stomach radiated outward, and I turned to Titan. Dustin. Discord. Both of them faced uncertainty without question. When the world needed them, they acted. Having him at my side, it was as if I borrowed his confidence. The voice screaming for me to run to safety dipped until I couldn’t hear its pleas.

“Let’s go… sidekick.”

I didn’t wait for an answer. Fist forward, I zipped toward Titan. My fists drove through another chunk of concrete. I dropped to the floor, picking up speed so that I could— SMASH. The uppercut sent a shockwave blowing away dust and glass.

“Nice try.”

Titan’s fist came tumbling down. Striking my chest with enough force, I watched the room spin about. Discord screamed with an intensity that’d leave my ears ringing for hours. I stopped just short of the far wall, inches before shattering another window. I hoped somebody noticed my attempt to prevent collateral damage.

“Supreme!” I could see the anger on his face, spit spraying as he shouted. His roar was lost in the ringing. “Fight, you coward.”

I feared he came to terrorize Arthur’s launch, but he didn’t care about the people holding phones recording the encounter. He hadn’t glanced at the stage. The only thing that seemed to matter was me? Why me? Especially now, of all times?

If I couldn’t take him out with a single blow, I’d have to be quicker. Not my best trait, but compared to this brute, I moved like a speedster. Pushing off, I flew in, fist drawn back as if I were about to attempt another powerhouse punch.

Discord jumped out of the way, and I stopped a foot short of Titan’s arms. He tried another clobbering, and I sidestepped. When he swung again, I pushed his hand across his torso and gave him a swift kick to the shin. It was not my fanciest attack, but it set him off balance.

I grabbed both of his wrists, trying to knock him over. He regained his footing. “Shoot.” He pushed with all his might, putting his weight into it. I dropped to one knee, the pavement cracking as he drove me into the ground.

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