Sidekick by Carl Stubblefield (10 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

to face her attacker, she saw an obvious augment, full of bionics and cybernetics on both his suit and embedded into his skin. Damn augments! Her disgust towards augments resurfaced.

Not having powers strong enough to really be supers, they used technology to make up the difference or amplify their skills to some semblance of significance. While some augments had Nth, most did not. They were unworthy adversaries in every sense. She sneered at him and tried to work the barb on the dart out of her neck.

With a coarse laugh, the augment shot another dart into her arm that was clasping the first dart and pushed energy through the clear, hair-like filaments completing the circuit. Aurora spasmed with the electricity, losing control of her arm as it flapped and flailed like a fish out of water, periodically hitting her. She tried to grab the filaments, hoping to break or tear them. Her muscles refused to cooperate for the most part, and the filaments were deceptively strong, though they looked thin and fragile.

Unable to break them, she changed tactics and used the filaments as a guide. She forced an Ion Storm attack up the filaments, crawling up the fibers back to the augment. He increased the voltage and Aurora almost lost consciousness, and probably would have if the pain had not kicked in as well. She could smell burning hair, realizing that it was emanating from her! The darts had heated up and were burning the skin and blood around where they poked out into the air.

Anger flaring, she pushed a huge wave of MP into her Ion Storm and it flew up the remainder of the filament, causing an overload in the power cells. The feedback blew them both back and they collapsed on the ground. She tried to contact Gus as she saw something approaching, her body unresponsive. The creature approached and activated a skill, and Aurora faded into unconsciousness.

After waiting for confirmation that she was out, long arms wrapped around Aurora’s body. With a large leap, the non-humanoid-looking super named Cthulhu took flight. Keying his comms, he gave the signal that he had the package and for everyone to return to base. Cthulhu couldn’t speak anymore, but had developed ways to communicate. Aurora disappeared, masked by tentacles swaying in the air.

Gus saw the small group of supers retreating. “Yeah, you had better run,” he said, satisfied. They were getting the hang of this. He checked his display and saw three more red circles and went over the small hill and descended to the beach.

Mercurio and Slipstream were there with another man bristling with electronics. His suit appeared to cover his entire body and he wore goggles. Touching each, he wiped their powers and then began hauling them back to the brig. He wondered where Aurora was, but assumed she still needed some space after their argument.

He returned and gathered the other mercs and lined them up, so he could make a stretcher train and bring everyone to the brig and save some time. Basileus would be pissed! He must have lost more than half of his fighting force by now, and should be getting desperate. Each failed attempt on the manor made him weaker and Gus stronger. With the new powers from these supers, protecting the manor would become a non-issue.

Gus began to ferry everyone to the brig, more than a little irritated that Aurora once again wasn’t helping him. He muttered under his breath, after making sure that the comm was clicked off, of course. Perhaps it was best she was taking some alone time; Gus was pretty bad at speaking with no filter when he was upset. He didn’t want to say anything to strain the already awkward dynamic that had arisen. Still, he grumbled to himself, the murmuring kept his mind occupied while he dragged everyone to their cells.

Congratulations! You have subdued 5 opponents trespassing on privately-owned territory.

5,000 XP (1,000 x 5) awarded for non-lethal methods.

2,500 FP (500 x 5) awarded.

1,700 XP to level 20.

Gus waved away the message in his irritation. Since he didn’t assist Aurora, he got no XP for ‘subduing’ them. Just another irritation; he would be level 20 now with that.

Finally done with the task, he had some free time but didn’t feel like doing anything, being in a sour mood. There had been enough battles that he didn’t feel like any training. He needed some fresh air, and maybe a quick swim to clear his mind.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Grown Up

As Gus kicked open the front doors, a tablet that was leaning against the door flew away, landing in the grass nearby. Gus stomped over to the tablet, kneeling down to pick up the device. A crack ran across the display. There was a grass-stained note on it that said simply: ‘Watch Me.’

Gus turned it on and, after connecting, Basileus came into view on the screen. “You found my little gift, good. It took you long enough. Listen up, as I’m only going to say this once. We have Aurora. The deal is simple: You give me the manor and we give you Aurora, unharmed. Meet me on the beach tomorrow, and we will go to transfer ownership. If you refuse, she dies. If you plan on betraying me, she dies. Once ownership is transferred, I will give you a transport and I expect you both to leave the island, forever. Those are my terms, and they are non-negotiable.” The camera panned to the side where Aurora was bound and unconscious. “She’s alive, for now. How long is up to you. Don’t disappoint me again.” The video ended and the screen blackened.

His first impulse was to try to come up with some plan on how to outwit Basileus and trap him or overpower him, but he didn’t want to put Aurora at risk. Gus sat down on the grass and ran his fingers through his hair.

What now? Gus was a planner by nature; he did his best work when