Page 43 of Seductive Architect
“We don’t use that word,” I said quickly. “But yes, like that. It just so happened one of them was a super-soldier program.” He cocked his head to the side. After everything he learned, he didn’t see the connection? This is why I thought our species wouldn’t survive. “You’re the proof.”
“I’m not a soldier…”
“I watched you tear the door off a car.”
“People needed saving, and…” It was the first moment of understanding. As his eyes darted back and forth, he replayed the event. His hands slowly repeated the gestures, hurling the door across the lobby. Hudson’s eyes went wide as the puzzle pieces fell into place.
The bar filled with ringing. Every man went for their phone, but I already knew the source. The HeroApp™ had sent out an alarm. Prism had returned to Synergy. Instead of sneaking in and blinding security cameras, he had made a spectacle of himself. He wanted attention, all eyes on him.
Claim the encounter.My phone sent out an alert, telling every hero to stand down. I couldn’t explain it, but my… ugh… gut said I was missing an obvious connection. It was time to find out about his involvement with Synergy.
“It’s Prism. He’s at work,” Hudson said.
“I’m sure he’s part of my…conspiracy.”
“Good luck?”
I took the final swig of beer and stood up. It’d only take me a few seconds to put on the suit and fly to Synergy. After everything we put on the table, I wasn’t leaving Hudson alone. I caused the turmoil and might very well be the only person who understood what he was going through.
“I don’t want you alone tonight.” Not after that bomb I dropped.
I held out my hand.
Care to join me?
“Can I do this?”
Hudson tightened his grip on my neck as I flew upside down. He asked dozens of questions when I suited up. An average person would have squealed when I grabbed them and blasted off. Hudson relied on his above-average strength to hold on. Maybe he could fly? But I hoped not. I much preferred him pressed against my body, even if my suit separated us.
I sat down in front of the shattered windows. “Ricardo’s insurance is going to be pissed.” It probably wasn’t the smartest tactic to bring Hudson, but I didn’t want to abandon him. Our date night had taken a weird twist… I grinned. It wasstilltechnically a date.
I stopped him from walking through the glass. “You can’t let him see you.” I put a finger to his temple. With a gentle nudge, the nanites pulled away from my finger, rushing across his face. A second later, he had a black mask surrounding his eyes and going halfway down his nose. “This should work.”
He snatched his phone and snapped a photo of himself, inspecting it. “I’m a hero.”
“No,” I corrected. “You’re a civilian. Stay behind me and don’t do anything stupid.” As soon as I said it, I might as well have tempted fate. Before tonight ended, he’d do something stupid. Those were the rules.
Hudson hesitated at the door, glancing at me as if he needed permission to go in. He could have walked throughany of the windows, but he clutched the handle. With a sharp jerk, the whole thing tore free. He let go, startled, taking a quick step back. Pointing at himself and then the door, he made an audible gasp.
“I did that?”
In the lobby, a white light filled the space. If Prism thought I’d make the same mistakes twice, he had another thing coming. My visor filtered out the light, making his attempt at blinding me for naught. Meanwhile, Hudson staggered, rubbing his eyes.
The jetpack fired, and I flew inside. I’d smack Prism around for a bit. We’d do an uncanny amount of property damage, and then I’d drop him off at the police station. Hudson and I could end the evening at my place, curled up on the couch as I… I shook my head, reminding myself that Hudson was a person of interest and not my boyfriend. Or maybe he could be?—
“I was expecting the big one. At least he’d prove a challenge.”
He and Hole needed to team up. While Hole was a walking shadow, Prism’s entire body glowed white. He almost shimmered, as if his body couldn’t contain the light. It made for a nifty costume, though I wondered if this meant he was standing there naked? I let repulsors in my gauntlets glow, ready for his first move.
“You’ll do. I hope you’ve…”
I rolled my eyes as he rattled on. Prism wanted to talk.Great. Supervillains loved lengthy monologues where they revealed their childhood traumas. Good grief, the world sucked. Get over it. I always preferred the ones that just slugged it out.
“Why are you here?”
“I hear Synergy has a special interest in heroes. I wanted to investigate.”
Plausible. Tech operations were three times more likely to be attacked. Villains wanted a way to enhance their abilities or steal the weapons for themselves. Prism struck me as the type who wanted to be a one-man army. At least this time, he hadn’t brought his henchmen.
