Page 26 of Not With the Eyes

Dixie nodded. "Ayuh, that's about the size of it."

"Huh," Oberon said, then glanced at Rodeo. "So what are you in for?"

Rodeo's face tightened. "Me and Technophile walked right into a fucking trap a few weeks ago. They've been interrogating us ever since. He was taken away two days ago. Ain't seen him since. I assume the worst."

"We'll figure it out for sure once we can talk to the outside world some more," Dixie replied. "For what it's worth, though, I don't think they'd kill him. He's too rare and valuable. Not sure what they're actually doing, but I don't think he's dead."

Rodeo looked ready to cry for a moment, but he only swallowed and whispered, "I hope not."

Technophile. 9-level zapper. Not a rare power, but definitely a rare level. The last 9-level had managed to wipe out an entire city, causing hundreds of thousands to die. He'd been declared a domestic terrorist and the G.O.D. had dealt with him swiftly and brutally.

Dixie was right in that the Dogs wouldn't kill someone like that. No, they'd do much, much worse. If Dixie was a living computer, then Technophile was a living generator. His designation came from how good he was at controlling electronics. He didn't need to be a hacker or anything else, because he could just make the electricity itself do whatever the hell he wanted.

"I hadn't realized you two worked together," Oberon said.

Rodeo looked at her, then down at the table as he replied quietly, "It was a new thing."

"We'll get him back," Stéphane said.

"We'll do our best," Oberon said, giving him a look. "Don't make promises we might not be able to keep. Look at how fantastically we botched this mission."

Stéphane shrugged. "I'm not the one who gave myself up."

"I'm not the one my mother would have shot on sight."

"She most definitely willnow," Stéphane replied, "given the tall tale you spun."

Dixie looked between them, then just shook his head. "I don't wanna know. Glad you two are getting along, though."

Rodeo smiled faintly. "It surely is something to meet such a notorious bunch, though I had no idea Scones was part of the group. Thought you worked solo too."

"I did. Recent thing."

Dixie laughed. "We seem to acquire all the solo misfits." He clapped Rodeo on the shoulder. "Welcome to the Anti-Heroes."

"It's an honor."

Oberon finished eating and stood. "Right, that's enough 'yay team' for my taste. Can we poke around that room over there?"

Dixie followed where she pointed. "Lemme make sure everything is disabled. Don't see how it couldn't be, given the whole damn building fell, but better safe than sorry."

A few minutes later, the door opened with a hiss, and Oberon stepped through into a dark room that smelled of old paper and stale air. He'd only gone a couple of steps when glaring fluorescent lights flickered on.

Revealing rows upon rows of shelves, file cabinets, crates, and more. "So these are the super secret archives."

"Specs and internal documents only ever refer to it as 'Vault 0'," Dixie replied. "Ya'll have fun, I'm gonna go do dishes and then pick a room and sack out. Wake me if you need me."

"Enjoy your sleep, and Dixie—" Oberon waited until Dixie turned back, then finished, "Thank you for coming to save me."

Dixie touched his forehead in lieu of tipping the hat he normally wore. "Ain't no need for all that, Oberon. You're family, even if you're the crankiest about it. Anyway, you might wish I hadn't helped once Byron gets hold of the two of you for gallivanting off."

Oberon groaned. "How long did you say we'll be down here?"

"At least a month, and no, that ain't gonna get you off the hook," Dixie said, and touched his forehead again before winking and departing.

Oberon smiled as she turned back to Stéphane. "Well, it was fun while it lasted, darling." To her shock, Stéphane's face went pink. Oberon quirked a brow. "Why are you blushing?"

"I'm not!"

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