Page 42 of Seductive Architect
“Why does your list of firsts start six months ago?”
Hudson’s head cocked to the side. For a second, he looked like he didn’t understand the question at all. Then his mouth opened and closed soundlessly, his eyes darting to the beer glass like it might hold the answer. His fingers drummed an erratic beat on the table. When he finally spoke, his voice cracked.
“You’re messing with me.” He said it, but it didn’t come with a joyful tone. The gears were turning. He tried to smile, but it vanished.
“Do you have any memories before Synergy?”
“I don’t…” His eyes darted back and forth. “I don’t know.”
I wanted to out his secret so that it was open between us. I hadn’t expected I’d be outing him to himself. His eyes dropped, fixed on the beer in front of him.
“It’s dark. I get glimpses, but I can’t see specifics. How?” He looked up. “Why can’t I remember anything before?”
“That’s when you were made.” Now it sounded cruel. “Born. Kind of the same thing.” The panic seeping into his eyes felt like a punch to the gut. It’d have been easier if he had been a sleeper agent trying to kill me.
He continued muttering, growing quiet. I don’t know what possessed me, but I reached across the table, holding out my hand. His eyes moved from the beer to my fingers. The seconds dragged out, turning into minutes. I had done enough damage in the pursuit of truth. Maybe I could help level the playing field.
“Give me your hand.”
His fingers crept up the table until his hand hovered over mine. I took the initiative, gripping his wrist. As soon as we made contact, my powers flared, the hum of code reaching deafening levels. I was about to do the one thing I had been told never to do. I told the truth.
Hello, Hudson.
“Huh?”
He shook his head before swatting at his ear. I had upended his world. I hadn’t thought about how this might impact him. There was only one thing I could think of that would level the playing field.
With a thought, his phone vibrated. “You should get that.”
It continued vibrating. It took a moment before he slid a hand into his pocket. When he checked the screen, he flicked it open. I watched as his thumb scrolled, flippingthrough a dozen photographs. When he reached the end, his eyes widened. It must have been the one of me in my helmet and gauntlets… and nothing else.
“You like to play dress-up?”
The best part of my every-day persona, nobody would suspect me of being a superhero. Unlike Wyatt, I didn’t need to work at blending in. Disgruntled appearance, average guy, unsuspecting, it all worked in my favor.
I glanced over Hudson’s shoulder, my hand still on the table. Arthur would claim I let my emotions get the best of me. He’d say revealing anything, especially to a guy on the wall, would be reckless. I wouldn’t argue. This was a stupid idea. Very stupid.
I reached out to the nanites, about to put it all on the line. My watch disintegrated as the metal covered my knuckles and spread along my fingers. Hudson’s confusion faded, replaced by disbelief. If his eyebrows went any higher, they’d be in his hairline.
“You—” He leaned forward, whispering. “You’re Failsafe?”
Shaking my hand, the nanites returned to the shape of my watch. I couldn’t tell if my reveal had done anything more than confuse the situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mick came over, dropped a beer in front of us, and pulled at his neck until he revealed himself as a Lizard person.
“That was you the other day?” With a slight suggestion, his phone opened the HeroApp™ and brought up the photo of us after stopping Prism’s henchmen. “Is that how you figured out I’m a…”
He couldn’t bring himself to say it. It’d take time. If he were like me, it’d be years before he understood being different is a strength. I didn’t have somebody to rely on during those early years. I thought I had been built broken. It wasn’t until I saw Prime save the mayor that I realized different didn’t mean bad.
We’re both special.
“How are you doing that?”
This is my gift. I can communicate with… machines.
“Is that how you?—”
“Figured it out?” Admitting I talked to machines didn’t seem as big a deal as explaining myhobby. “I’ve been investigating some theories?—”
“Conspiracies?”
