Page 7 of Breathless Recruiter

“We’re having a fancy party.”

Zaster’s head tilted as if he didn’t understand the statement. His lips puckered to one side as he thought about the statement. “You’re an odd man.”

Rude. “I assure you, I’m a normal man.” He’d never suspect my extracurricular activities.

“I’ll be at yourfancyparty. Ricardo invited everybody in the lab.” I refrained from cringing this time. “Will I see you there?”

I nodded. “I like any excuse to get dressed up.”

He eyed the chocolate again, and I turned, protecting it against my chest. I could feel it turning squishy in the wrapper.

“It’s like you’re from another planet.”

I froze. Scientists were smart, even if they were cruel. I couldn’t tell if he was being rude or if he suspected my origins. I bit my tongue, waiting for Zaster’s next statement.

With a deft hand, he snatched another block of chocolate. “Thanks.” He tossed it in his mouth before turning around and walking away. Rude, definitely rude. I had escaped being discovered by an Earthling. Worse yet, one of the white coats had stolen a third of my confectionary treat.

“So rude,” I mumbled.

If I closed my eyes, I heard the rustle of trees. I never imagined coming to the city would include non-stop noise. Between the cars zipping toward their destination or the construction downtown, it was impossible to make out the cries of citizens in need.

Every night, heroes hovered above the city, looking for opportunities to do good. It’s easy when a villain blows up a building or demons come stomping from the underworld. Not all rescues involved escapees from the home for the criminally insane. I preferred the one-to-one saves. I enjoyed talking to people and making them smile.

“Boss is a genius.”

For those of us without super hearing or x-ray vision, finding opportunities required patience. With the HeroApp™, anybody in Vanguard could request help. Heroes wouldn’t have to rely on patrolling. I’d be able to swoop down and…

“And what?”

The Beacon had rated me the third-strongest hero in Vanguard, but the magazine pointed out I had one of the lowest save rates. In the distance, I spotted several fliers falling out of the sky, heading toward a fire in the distance. I wanted to join them, to fulfill my purpose and be the protector Vanguard needed.

“Be their protector, but always be careful. Your greatest weakness will be…”

I had mumbled the phrase a thousand times, eyes clenched as I tried to recall my birth father’s last words. I could see the glint of sunlight reflecting where his hair had all but vanished. Even his smile had burned into my memory, but each time, his voice trailed off. I had yet to discover this weakness. Not knowing made me hesitate instead of rushing into danger and protecting Vanguard.

“I’m not a protector,” I whispered. Third strongest, and barely able to call myself a hero. I doubted my father or my Earth Mom would be thrilled to know they raised a man scared of his own shadow. Then again, what if my shadow was my weakness, and it’d leave me a vulnerable mess?

I let my shoulders slump, chin hanging down. The other heroes were doing their jobs. They didn’t need me cowering in the background. Maybe tomorrow I’d remember what he said, or as Janet put it, “sack up.” I’d never understand her colorful expressions. How would a sack make me braver?

I drifted back and forth as the breeze picked up. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Earthlings relying on their feet for transportation. Only those with powers could will themselves into the air. I forced myself still, unmoving despite the whipping winds. I might look like a human, but I didn’t experience the world like them.

Descending from the clouds, the noise of the city streets grew into a dull roar. I’d spend another night on the couch, watching infomercials. It wasn’t how Iwantedto spend my nights, but what else could I do unless I wanted to risk?—

“Help!”

I paused, hovering just above the bridge leading into Vanguard. Cars had backed up, creating a traffic jam. No bad guys shooting lasers. I waited, expecting a man in a dark suit andcape to come tearing down the street. I followed the line of cars and found the problem.

“Oh,thisI can do.”

I pushed off, flying downward. When I reached the pavement along the bridge, I pulled up, speeding between cars. It wasn’t the most heroic act of the night. Saving a man plummeting off a bridge wouldn’t land me in the papers. It didn’t matter. One human saved was just as good as saving the planet.

“I’m coming.”

The car had turned sideways, teetering on the edge of the bridge. It rocked back and forth with the driver, banging against the glass. There were no villains lurking in the shadows, no cars ready to explode. Scanning the bridge, I couldn’t find anything that might cause me harm. What if it was an elaborate trap, and he had a death ray? I shook the thought from my head. No, this was just a normal human about to fall to his death.

Confident I wasn’t in peril, I picked up the pace. It’d be close, but I could save him. I barrel-rolled around a minivan and waved at the children inside as I passed. The car had tipped to where it’d only be seconds until?—

“I’ve got you, Earth… human.”

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