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Jun 20, 2025

Short Story: Epilogues

Tales of Hero City Collection

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Wordcount: 8,423

Synopsis:

The City is safe, the world too, and our heroes and villains go on with their lives. Let's wrap up some loose ends, shall we?

A03 Link For Those That Want It

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66730474

Full Story Below the Break

Epilogues

Melody waited in her apartment, brewing a cup of tea, when the doorbell rang. With a slight hobbling step, she hurried over to answer it. Behind the door was a generic looking man with dark-ish skin, greying mid-coloured hair, and facial features that were certainly there.

“I was expecting you,” Melody greeted cheerily. “Please, come in.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised, Miss Planker,” Henchman 14 returned, stepping in and closing the door.

“Oh, none of the Miss,” Melody dismissed. “You and I are part of a unique little club. Saviours of the city!” she said brightly.

“God… I can’t believe I actually saved the city,” 14 answered, more repulsed than joyous. “I’ve become a bloody hero!” he complained.

Melody looked at him with curious confusion.

“Sorry, Miss Planker, and yes I am going to keep calling you that,” 14 said. “I’m a henchman by trade, a villainous lackey. To think I was one of those spandex wearing, pompous caped crusaders, even for a minute…” He shivered. “Present company excepted, of course.”

Melody chuckled. “I suppose that makes sense. Still, I don’t see you remaining a lackey for long, not now. Your face will already be on every news channel, Henchman 14.”

“Ha! People will have already forgotten my name.”

“Really?”

“Yep,” he grinned. “On the way here, I passed three newspaper stands. Every single paper had front page photos of the heroes who saved the city, including me. But was I recognised? No! I even bought one of the papers with my face on the front page just to prove my point.”

“Huh. How strange,” Melody looked confused again.

“Perks of being a henchman. A face in the crowd, part of the organisation. Hell, I’ve met Justice Man hundreds of times, he still doesn’t recognise me.”

“Do other heroes?”

“Some of them,” 14 thought. “But it doesn’t matter. Because, fun as this chat is, we have business, Miss Planker.”

“Of course,” Melody nodded. “Do you have it?”

14 reached into a pocket and pulled out a glowing cube. He pressed a few buttons, then aimed it at the floor. A blue glow emanated, and a large case materialised before them.

“One Sword of Songs, back where it belongs,” 14 offered it, kneeling and opening the case. Inside was the massive bronze sword, which Melody looked at fondly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to keep it? The powers seemed to suit you?” she asked.

“With respect, Miss Planker, hell no,” 14 said with a smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I am not getting involved. I just want to do my job. Time to put this back in its place.”

14 gestured to the wall, where an empty framed case awaited.

“Whenever you’re ready,” he stepped back.

Melody raised an eyebrow at him. “So… You’re not going to help me put it in the frame?”

“Should I need to help the great Melody Planker?” he dodged.

Melody narrowed her eyes. “You expect me to do it, all by myself?”

“That seems to be the situation, yes. It’s more yours than it is mine.”

“You want me to pick up the sword, and thus become Chorus, just to put it in its case?”

“One last use of the sword, for old times’ sake.” He practically bowed as he offered it to her.

Melody continued to stare, but eventually hobbled over and reached for the sword. As skin met metal, she flashed with silver light, and suddenly a less hunched old woman was stood, the sword held proudly, Chorus’s black and white leotard sealed over her torso, and her silver mask covering her face.

“You are a strange one, Mr 14,” she said, then strode to the wall display. As she reached up to put the artefact back in, she paused. “Wait…” she turned to him.

“What’s the matter?”

“You just don’t want to be the last one to touch this sword, do you? That’s why you’re being so coy!” she accused.

14 grinned, a little abashed. “Alright. Busted,” he confessed.

“You’re that scared of getting superpowers?”

“Melody, doesn’t that sound just like an origin story to you?” 14 said. “Danger rises and the sword calls to its last bearer for aid. But it isn’t calling for Chorus, or anyone else on that roof. It’s calling to me, the last person who held it. I’m not taking the risk.”

“Well… You’re not wrong,” Melody conceded.

“Exactly.”

“But, hell, I’m not going to be around forever. Aren’t you scared it’s just going to go down the line?”

“Mildly, but what can you do?” he shrugged.

“And you didn’t think to get a bunch of people to hold it briefly, just in case?”

“It did occur to me, but that seemed profoundly irresponsible,” 14 admitted.

Melody gave him one last curious look, then turned and put the sword in its case. As it left her hands, the silver light drained away, her superhero outfit with it, returning her to her grey frumpy dress. She stumbled back, regaining her breath.

“Lord, do I miss those powers some days. But you’re right, 14. You have to know where to draw the line. Those days are behind us both.”

“Here’s hoping,” 14 crossed his fingers.

“Still, that doesn’t change what you did, saving this city. You saved us all. You might not want to be Chorus, and I do understand that, but you are still important, sir. Even if the city forgets you, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“I was just doing my job,” 14 saluted modestly.

“Aren’t we all?” Melody smiled. Her face scrunched slightly. “Here I am, honouring you, and I don’t even know your real name. I don’t think it was in the papers either. You’re just… 14.”

“The papers didn’t ask, not that I’d have told them,” 14 explained. “And my name is Edmond Fortnight, Miss Planker. The few who know that just call me Ed.”

“Well, Ed, thank you. Thank you for a whole lot. Now, would you like to stay for some tea?”

“Sorry, can’t stay,” 14 turned to leave. “Busy day at Intellitron Resorts, and it’s a bit of a ways back. Gotta fly.” He hefted the now empty travelling case for the sword.

“I hope to see you around, Henchman 14,” she followed him to the door.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Miss Planker, but I hope to never see you again,” he said, eyeing the sword on the wall warily.

Melody chuckled. “Fair enough. Now, did my doorman let you up, or did you enter by the roof? Supers tend to pick the latter option.”

“Front door, but your doorman missed me. I’m good at getting in unseen,” 14 tapped his nose meaningfully. “And I think I’ll weird him out further by brazenly carrying this case out past him. Leave him wondering how I got it in without him noticing.”

“That’ll keep him on his toes,” Melody appreciated. “Well, good day to you.”

“And you, Miss Planker.”

Melody closed the door, as 14 hurried off down the stairs. She turned to her apartment, walking over to her sword, back in its proper place.

Her brow furrowed.

“Fortnight?” she mumbled. She walked over to a different wall, peering at the photos.

She pulled one frame down, her eyes scanning the portrait.

“Fortnight…” she said to herself again. “Where do I know that name?”

In her hands was a full group photo of the League of Titans.

“I wonder…” she finished, her finger resting on one hero in particular.

* * *

“Snnnrrkt,” Jude sniffed. “Tessa?”

“Coming!” Tessa called from the other room.

Jude lay in bed, surrounded by tissues, her skin a few fractions yellower than it should be. She was huddled under her blankets, eyes and nose streaming, with a headache that would fell an elephant.

Gently, the door opened, and Tessa entered with a pot of tea and two cups.

“Got some lemon tea. Should help clear those sinuses,” she said.

“Tess, my hot water bottle’s gone cold…” Jude moaned.

“I’ve got you,” Tessa nodded, and took the rubber bottle from Jude’s arms.

She poked it, unscrewed the top, and produced a small capsule from a trouser pocket. She shook the capsule and dropped it into the bottle with a tiny plop. Within seconds, the bottle began to bubble and steam gently. She corked it again and returned it to Jude.

“Careful. It’s hot.”

“Thank you,” Jude said sleepily, hugging the warm bottle like a teddy bear.

Tessa eyed her patient with a clinical eye. “That bottle went cold awfully quick? Your allergies don’t drain heat from their surroundings, do they?”

“I don’t know,” Jude sniffed loudly. “I just know I feel like I’m freezing.”

“Sorry I sent you that peppermint.” Tessa sat on the bed, holding her girlfriend’s hand. “Felt like a good idea at the time.”

“No bother. It won us the day,” Jude said, curling tighter beneath two sweaters.

“That and 14. It’s amazing… Now, sit up and drink your tea.”

Jude did as she was told, emerging from the blankets in her outfit of every woollen item in the house. Tessa poured her a cup and handed it into mittened hands.

“Thanks,” Jude sighed. “I can’t really taste it, but I assume it’s good.”

Tessa took a sip. She frowned. “It’s a bit soapy actually. Still, it’s full of all sorts of nutrients.” She reluctantly took another sip, keeping an eye on Jude.

“So… You really saved the day because of me and the peppermint?” Tessa asked slyly. “How does it feel, saving the entire city and beyond?”

“It’s pretty cool,” Jude said happily. “How did it feel for you, blowing up Cosmo Tower?”

“Oh, I can’t take credit for that. It was mostly… Wait, why am I being modest about this? Yep, it was definitely all my idea. Me me me,” Tessa grinned with a villainous smile.

“And was it strictly necessary?”

“Well, Annihilator had already set the charges, and frankly the battle with the demons left the place pretty unstable. A controlled demolition, a public service, no charge. And… it was a whole lot of fun,” Tessa grinned like a Cheshire Cat. “Boom!”

“Plus, any evidence Cosmo had in that building is gone,” Jude added.

Tessa rocked her head in an uncertain way. “I doubt Cosmo had everything in one building. Back-ups, copies of contracts, perhaps an underground vault beneath the tower. Also, he likely knows most of it off by heart. But I think he’s smart enough to keep his mouth shut.”

“You don’t think he’ll rat out every super he knows for a deal?”

“Not if he doesn’t want Annihilator and a dozen other supervillains testing his immortality by force. I’ve heard that robot’s drill claws make quite a mess,” she said coldly.

Jude stared for a moment, then slumped back into her bed with a smile.

“You know, Dark Dragon was right about one thing.”

“And what is that?”

“My morals have shifted. When I first started as a hero, I would have decried the mere idea of Cosmo getting tortured. Now though…”

“That, and your girlfriend is a supervillain.”

“That too,” Jude agreed. “But if Henchman 14 can save the city, then the line between good and evil might be a bit too blurry for me.”

“Yep. Best to think in shades of grey. And I’ll have to ask 14 about all that next time he’s in my employ. But for now, you need to get some rest.”

“Sleepy time,” Jude agreed tiredly, slipping back into her covers.

“Sleep well,” Tessa said, kissing her on the forehead. “And save your strength to save this city another day.”

“Another… day… ZZZZZ,” Jude murmured, and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The night of Hero City was cold and dark, as many a back alley sat in silence, not counting the scuttling of curious rats. In a storage shed attached to a repair shop, in one said alley, a shadow moved carefully, guiding gleaming metal to its goal.

“Ow!” the young woman yelped, sucking on her finger where the needle pricked. “Who would have guessed you’d need to know how to stitch to be a sidekick?”

Night Guard, or Katie, was stitching up her cape where a bold racoon had got in and nibbled a corner. Beside her, there were a few cans of beans, a small camping stove, and a pile of blankets and clothes she called a bed.

“Stupid Headmaster Devon. Stupid Matron. Stupid…” she grumbled, patching the seam in the duvet cover she called her cape. “Next time, I need to practice spin kicks where I won’t hit one of the younger students… if there even is a next time,” she finished glumly.

Outside, something clattered.

Night Guard reacted, threw on her mask, and picked up the shuriken she’d bought from a martial arts store, aiming at the door. She waited.

Another clatter.

With agility and elegance, she rolled outside and into the alley. Her eyes were keen in the dark, watching for any movement. She stopped and stood. She stared.

Strung across the middle of the alley were various cans on a fishing wire. The wind blew and the cans rattled.

“That… wasn’t there earlier,” she assessed.

She quickly ran through possibilities. A trap? No. Too obvious. A lure to get her out of the shack? Why though, to steal her beans? No. A lure to get her into the alley? Maybe… but she’d been stood out in the open for a minute now and nothing had happened.

She walked over and plucked the string like a guitar. It rattled. Nothing else happened.

She sighed. Maybe it was just a prank. Using her shuriken, she cut the thread and collected the apparent trap, transporting it back to her shed. Could be useful, she told herself. She re-entered, closed the door, and piled the trap on a sideboard, before considering which can of beans to open-

“Well, aren’t you a little hoarder?” came a distorted dark voice.

Night Guard flung the shuriken at the noise. Then she blinked. The shuriken had stopped in mid-air… or more accurately, a strange patch of darkness had caught it. Caught it between two fingers.

“A little jumpy, but the survival instincts are on point,” the shadow said casually.

Night Guard, keeping the intruder in sight the whole time, reached over and turned on a lamp. As the electric light flickered and warmed up, the figure before her became clear.

“No. Freaking. Way!” she went wide eyed with excitement.

The figure in her hut was a hero, judging by the cape, black and grey outfit, and a mask that covered their entire face. A lack of face that Night Guard knew very well indeed.

“STEALTH WATCHER!” she exploded, nearly hyperventilating.

“Sorry for the lure outside. I needed something so I could slip in for a proper entrance.”

“Oh, I don’t mind, sir. I don’t mind at all,” she said joyfully. “Please, have a seat.” She offered him the only chair.

“No need,” he put up a hand. “I wanted to speak with you, Night Guard.”

Night Guard’s eyes went wide as dinner plates. “Yes?”

“It is of utmost importance, and my next question could change your life forever.”

“Yes?” she almost vibrated with excitement.

“Night Guard… Wait, do you really live like this?” He looked around at the abandoned shed.

If Night Guard could’ve suffered whiplash from the conversation, she would have.

“…That’s what you wanted to ask me?”

“What? Oh, sorry, no,” Stealth Watcher apologised. “That wasn’t the earth shattering question I meant. I only just realised… Are you sleeping rough?”

“No!” Night Guard said guardedly, kicking a sleeping bag under a workbench.

“Justice Girl told me where to find you, but even so… she wasn’t really sure,” he eyed some of the blankets. There were things skittering in them.

“Stealth Watcher, sir? What is it you wanted to ask me?” she tried to get back on track.

“Oh, right,” he nodded. “Here’s the situation, Night Guard. Recent events, new threats, and a long career in crime fighting, and I have finally realised something. I have limitations. I am, in fact, mortal.”

“No!” Night Guard genuinely gasped.

“Yes. I might not like to admit it, especially with the superpowered heroes being all high and mighty, but I do have my limits. And this is me, accepting them.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“I need help. I can’t keep doing this hero gig alone, especially without any powers. It was a tough pill to swallow, but then I remembered you. There are a lot of sidekicks in this city, but you really impressed me, Night Guard, dealing with Battering Sam. So, here is my offer.”

He extended a hand to her.

“Will you be my… What is that smell?”

Night Guard ground her teeth. So close and yet so far… “I believe that’s the bundle of clothing behind you, sir.”

“Oh… Are you sure you’re not sleeping rough? Because it’s fine if you are… I mean, it isn’t fine, that’s a little worrying, but I mean…” Stealth Watcher stopped babbling. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright, sir. I just need to get the money together to use the laundromat down the street. Nothing to worry about.”

Stealth Watcher looked at her, and even behind his mask, she could sense a raised eyebrow.

“Alright, Night Guard. Ground rules. Before we get onto the question, the one I suspect will shatter your world, I think I need to ask about all this first. What are you doing here? Living here? Justice Girl suspects you might be homeless.”

“I’m not homeless. That’s just a stupid rumour Wandering Foot started… sir.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I… I’m not homeless. I mean… I have a home, and I could live there if I wanted. But I don’t.”

“You ran away from home?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I ran away from boarding school. Well… You pay for boarding school. I guess you’d call it a reform school or something. A place with dorms. I got sent there by the orphanage and ran away.”

“You escaped?”

“They’ll hardly miss me,” Night Guard shrugged. “I go back for lessons and major exams, cause I’ve still got to get an education, right? But I break out to work on my true passion and to attend Sidekick Club meetings.”

She twirled to demonstrate her sidekick outfit.

“Break out… to live out of an old shed,” Watcher assessed, a mournful edge to his voice.

“We do what we can with what we have to do what we must,” she said quick enough to be a tongue twister. “And none of the teachers care about me leaving. I just know... I know I'm destined for something more.”

“And you’re sure this is what you want to do? Super work?”

“More than anything in the world,” she affirmed.

“Alright, if you’re sure,” Stealth Watcher accepted. “Then, Night Guard,” he continued with building grandness, “I have two things to say to you. Two important things.”

He reached up, and with a pull and the release of a few strings, his mask came off. Before Night Guard stood a young man with strawberry blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.

“First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Billy Powers, and I am Stealth Watcher.”

Night Guard stood, mouth agape, staring blankly. It took her a solid minute to get her brain back in order, and nod understandingly.

“This is where you tell me your name,” Billy prompted.

“Oh! Right!” she realised, and hurriedly pulled the duvet from her head.

Night Guard was actually a girl in her mid teens, with oil-black hair, freckles, pale skin, and a sharp bob and bangs haircut. From under her severe fringe, dark blue eyes peaked out.

“Um… Katies Shades,” she introduced.

Billy smiled. “Shades? Really?”

“Yes? What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Just the sidekick has a more appropriate name than I do,” he laughed.

Katie buzzed at the S-word being mentioned. Watcher noticed.

“I guess that does lead us onto point two. The Question.”

“Yes?” Katie thrummed like she’d explode.

Billy extended a hand.

“Katie Shades?”

“Yes!”

“Do you want to be my sidekick?”

Katie ignored the handshake. She instead tackled him right into a hug.

“OH MY GOD! YEAAHHHH!!!” she screamed.

Needless to say, the answer was yes.

“First things first,” Stealth Watcher said, prying her off. “You’ve got training to do before I let you anywhere near field work. You understand?”

“Yes, sir!” she said, standing to attention.

“Secondly, don’t call me sir. Boss is acceptable, but I’d prefer Stealth Watcher.”

“Yes, Boss!” she said just as firmly.

“Second… or third now I guess, I’ll get you set up in the Watchtower. That’s my hideout.”

“Oh, I know,” she said, fangirl seeping through.

“Don’t get excited though, it isn’t actually a tower. I just thought Watch Attic In An Old Church didn’t scan too well, but it’s better than this old shed.”

“I don’t care. I just want to work with you,” she beamed.

“Good. Because, lastly, you are still going to school, young lady,” he said sternly.

Katie’s face fell.

“Since you’re my ward now, you will keep up your education for as long as we work together… at least until your old enough to leave. Until then, you will study and study hard… though we might talk about transferring you somewhere nicer. Your school sounds terrible.”

“You can afford that?”

“I can try,” he said, doing some mental accounting. “Are my terms acceptable?”

Katie stopped to give it proper consideration. The school thing was a fly in the ointment, but it was only a small fly. And it was good ointment.

“Deal!” she said excitedly.

“Very well, Night Guard. You are my sidekick. And I believe this will be the beginning of a beautiful partnership.”

And Katie could only agree.

* * *

“Wrench,” Intellitron beckoned.

“Wrench.” 14 passed him the tool.

There was a cranking noise as something was tightened.

“Screwdriver.”

“Screwdriver,” 14 obliged.

Creaking and squeaking, a screw turned.

“Battery.”

“Double AA or triple?”

“One of the power cells, behind you on the shelf.”

“Right.” 14 retrieved the glowing cylinder and handed it to his boss.

Intellitron slotted the last bit into place, a switch flipped with some whirring and a clanking, and suddenly the pile of metal and parts he’d been working on began to move.

“Welcome to the Plaza! Try out the new Restaurant of the Future, today! Just turn left around the next corner,” chirped the theme park animatronic, a large kangaroo, which promptly got off the repairs table and walked away.

Intellitron and 14 watched it leave, and only winced slightly as it ploughed through a closed door to get back outside. Intellitron took a cloth and began to wipe the grease from his hands.

“So you’re saying it just started squirting oil?”

“Yep,” 14 confirmed. “Henchman 6 saw it all. She said it was doing its job, a kid came up and kicked it in the privates, then black crude started pouring out the back.”

“Huh, that’s odd… Especially since they don’t use crude oil. They’re powered by synthetic lubricants of my own design,” Intellitron considered.

14 shrugged. “I don’t know. My only question is why it was coming out the rear end.”

“Hmmm, yes…” Intellitron tried to breeze past. “We can’t have that happening. We’re lucky it was just one of the generic animal mascots. If that had been one of the hero animatronics, we might have been sued for defamation of character.”

“Ha! Could you imagine?”

“Speaking of,” Intellitron changed the subject, “How did the visit to Miss Planker go?”

“Nothing to be worried about. The sword is back where it belongs. My hero days are over.”

“A shame,” Intellitron said teasingly, “I could always use your indestructability to test my security systems. The rocket launchers are out of alignment.”

14 shot him a look. “You know my contract expressly forbids that.”

“I know, I know,” Intellitron put up a hand. “Anyway, if I wanted to test them, I’d just ask a hero. Or I could just wait until Justice Man next breaks in, whenever that will be.”

“The good money’s on the next two weeks.”

“That soon?” Intellitron stopped to think. “I guess it has been a month since he was last here, and that was for one of the shows.” His robot eye flashed with realisation. “Do you think that’s what happened to the animatronic? That buffoon poured crude oil into it for some reason?”

“Wouldn’t put it past him,” 14 sighed, putting away the tools.

“To think, for years he bested me… I battled him, I even saved his child, and now I’m functionally his ally. And I wouldn’t trust the fool to change a plug.”

“Reluctant ally,” 14 corrected.

“Quite.”

“Still, it’s all relative,” 14 reflected. “At least when he breaks in nowadays, I tend not to get punched. And it’s usually for some good reason, like he needs our help and can’t just ask us.”

“He still manages to ask in the most annoying way possible,” Intellitron groaned.

“It’s like a special skill of his. I mean, if I have to see him wearing that damn trench coat, thinking he’s fooling anyone…” 14 growled, throttling the air in front of him.

“Urgh, that accursed disguise.” Intellitron slumped his shoulders. “But what can we expect, when his main level of disguise is so pitiful.”

“What do you mean?”

“The great and grand Justice Man and his so-called secret identity,” Intellitron said snootily.

14 stopped working and turned to his boss. “His secret identity?”

Intellitron stared at him, affecting stunned confusion.

“Oh, 14, you can’t tell me you can’t see it?”

“Who do you think Justice Man is?”

Intellitron dialled the stunned confusion up to bafflement. “It’s obvious, 14!”

14 quirked an eyebrow. “Is this the Justin Mann is clearly Justice Man thing again?”

“YES!” Intellitron burst. “I’ve met both of them, and they are clearly the same person. Same voice, same face, same build, just one wears a stupid cowboy hat and speaks in an even stupider fake Texan accent. It’s obvious!”

“I don’t buy it,” 14 dismissed, getting back to his work.

Intellitron turned up his confusion until it was full on disbelief.

“14, have I really overestimated your intelligence to such a degree?”

“Justice Man is not famed bachelor philanthropist Justin Mann,” 14 said flatly.

“14…”

“And I can prove it,” the henchman continued.

Intellitron raised an intrigued eyebrow. “You can prove it?”

“Yep. Bet you I can prove it with one simple fact.”

“That’s quite the bet.” Intellitron thought for a moment. “I’m game. What are the stakes?”

“Two weeks paid vacation,” 14 proffered. “If I lose, I owe you two weeks unpaid labour.”

“High stakes. You’re really that confident?” Intellitron challenged.

“Accept it or don’t,” 14 countered.

Intellitron stopped and thought. With nothing to lose, he nodded.

“Okay then, 14. Dazzle me.”

“Alright. You said it yourself. You’ve fought Justice Man for years, saved his kid, saved the world together, right?”

“Of course.”

“And of course you’ve also looked into Justin Mann, right?”

“Out of idle curiosity,” Intellitron admitted.

“His life, his business, his romantic ties?”

“I had a free afternoon once, so yes.”

“Alright then. How many kids does Justin Mann have?”

“Well none, obviously, he’s a bachelor…”

The penny dropped and Intellitron’s eyes went wide.

“Bugger!” he exploded a moment later.

14 shrugged and kept working.

“How did I never see that?” Intellitron exclaimed, “I mean, I saved Justice Man’s daughter!”

“Exactly,” 14 said, restraining his smugness.

“Back to the drawing board on that one, I guess,” Intellitron sighed. “Still, there has to be a connection between the two.”

“Most probably. But honestly, I’d prefer not to know. Too much trouble.”

Intellitron nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. He’d likely get quite upset.”

“Yep. Now, I was thinking I’ll take my two weeks off starting at the end of the month.”

Intellitron shot a dirty look, but smiled. “What are you going to do with two weeks off?”

“I dunno,” 14 shrugged again. “Maybe I’ll go out, meet some people, gets some drinks, see the city… without being compelled to rob it, I mean. And without getting punched by Justice Man.”

“A fair deal… whoever Justice Man really is.”

* * *

The kitchen was warm and awash with lovely smells, as pots were stirred and something golden-brown cooked in the oven. The walls were a summer yellow, their warmth matching the general tone of the rest of the house. The chef, a woman in her early fifties, was working hard, juggling the various tasks. She stopped briefly to push her chocolate-brown hair from her eyes and then went to check the soup.

“Beth, sweetie?” she called to the other room. “Do you mind giving me a hand in here?”

“Sure, Mum,” a voice answered, and her daughter appeared at the door, a younger version of her mother with slightly less angular features.

“Can you check the pie? I’m a little worried it might burn.”

“Sure thing.” Beth did as requested, found nothing wrong, and so placed the baked-good on the side to cool. “Is everything else ready?”

“Just about. We’re just waiting on your-”

The front door opened and a muscular figure in a trench coat walked in.

“Here he is,” the mother smiled.

“I see we’re all hanging out in the kitchen?” Justice Man beamed, unbuttoning his trench coat to reveal his barely concealed costume.

“It is the busiest place in the house tonight,” the mother smiled back. “Hello, dear. How was your day?”

Justice Man wobbled a hand indeterminately. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything’s been quite quiet since the whole Dark Dragon thing.”

“The criminals are likely scared of jumpy police,” Beth guessed, leaning on a counter.

“Likely,” Justice Man agreed. “Still, it won’t last. But enough of such dull things, how are you two today?”

Mother stirred the soup. “The office is considering giving me a promotion, at least if gossip is to be believed,” she said proudly.

“Katherine, are you serious?” Justice Man said excitedly.

“It’s not confirmed yet,” she tempered. “They had a bunch of insurance contracts tied up with Cosmo Industries, so everything is a bit of a mess, but apparently there’s an opening after one of the Insurance Investigators turned out to be Apocalypto.”

“That’s great news, Mum,” Beth patted her on the back.

“That’s amazing, honey,” Justice Man bent down to kiss her.

“Oh, not in front of Beth, dear.” She shooed him away.

“She’s a grown woman now. Romance is no mystery to her,” Justice Man teased, but pulled back anyway. “So, Beth, how’s the job hunt going?”

“Lousy,” Beth sighed. “Filled in a dozen forms last week, not one responded. Still, at least the babysitting pays. Did you manage to talk to Sanctimony about the Sidekick’s Club?”

“Sorry, he doesn’t seem particularly interested. He says he can’t budget for more money to pay you either. A crock of bull, if you ask me,” Justice Man shook his head.

“Yeah…” Beth accepted. “Still, if he asks, tell him I’ll be there usual time. Someone has to look after those kids… though most of them are hardly kids at this point.”

“There’ll be a new generation of sidekicks, I’m sure, especially after something big like Dark Dragon taking over. The Second Apocalypto Incident, people are calling it.”

“I had heard,” Katherine affirmed. “A little unimaginative if you ask me.”

An oven timer dinged, and Katherine hurriedly plated up the food. They moved to the other room to eat, with Justice Man heading upstairs briefly to change into jeans and a buttoned shirt.

“So,” Katherine broached as they watched TV, “You both ready for the weekend?”

“Yep. I know what I’m taking,” Beth said simply.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Justice Man hedged. “There might be something villainous happening that-”

“Don’t you dare try to squirm out of this,” Katherine warned him.

“I’m just not sure I’ll-”

“Avery, you are going to see your brother!” she commanded.

“Kathy…”

“No arguments. Justin invited us up for the weekend, and we’re going. Your parents are going to be there too, Avery. Norma and Odin. How often do you see them?”

“I know…” Justice Man relented. “It’s just, you know how me and Justin don’t get on. He’s always the favourite child.”

“You know that’s not true,” Kathy soothed.

“He’s a millionaire philanthropist, Kathy. To them, I’m just some weirdo in tights,” Justice Man shook his head. “And Justin’s always doing that stupid accent and wearing that stupid hat. And they think I’m weird,” he finished bitterly.

“Dad, you’ll always be cooler than him,” Beth assured, “but remember… we all get to use Uncle Justin’s rich guy stuff while we’re there. Remember his heated pool?”

Justice Man nodded thoughtfully. “I guess.”

“And it’ll be nice to see them all,” Kathy added. “Beth gets to see her grandparents?”

“I suppose,” Justice Man admitted. “It has been a while.”

“Right. It’ll be a fun weekend.”

“And, if Uncle Justin starts to annoy you, you can pick him up with your super strength and carry him away,” Beth added.

“Mum and Dad would not like that,” Justice Man smirked. “Still, it’s a good fall-back plan.”

“It’s what I would do… you know, if I had powers.”

“Be a little thankful you don’t,” Katherine commented. “Odin and Norma Mann were never too fond of the whole superpowers thing. Even if it is kind of their fault.”

“True,” Justice Man nodded. “Mad scientists the both of them.”

Dinner went on pleasantly, and as Avery and Kathy sat watching TV, Beth volunteered to head through and start on the washing up. She scrubbed the dishes and wiped down the glasses. She placed a glass on the edge of the counter, then felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She turned, pulled it out, and nudged the counter, the glass tumbling off the side.

It stopped inches from the ground, caught by a strange purple aura.

The aura held it, lifted it, and then placed it on the other side beside the sink. Beth finished texting, then reached out for it… only to find it had moved. She looked around to see who moved it.

Accepting it as just one of those strange things in life, she shrugged and got on with the cleaning, before heading back through to join her family.

* * *

The prison was dank and dark… or at least it would have been, had the heroes and police of the city had their way. In truth it was just a bit dingy and a little cold, being the holding cells for a police station, and thus subject to health and safety.

Cosmo Derringer sat in his cell, pointedly not sitting on the bed because he knew that Detective Washburn’s threat to put itching powder in his sheets was likely not a bluff. He instead sat on the bench, turning the events of the previous days over in his mind. For the first time in years he felt alone. No Dark Dragon watching his every move. No dreams. No plans.

He was just himself, and he didn’t quite know what to do with that.

He’d failed, technically, but he also hadn’t wanted to destroy the city. He’d just never expected events to go quite that way. Or Dark Dragon kicking him out. He wasn’t surprised, but it had left him in a bit of a pickle, and now Dark Dragon was gone too. He was alone.

And here he was in a cell, by himself, awaiting any number of interrogators, all looking to prise the secrets from his brain. He looked down and inspected the manacles around his wrists. A set of disconnected handcuffs, which true to Washburn’s word, kept him from teleporting or using any magic at all. She’d said they belonged to Jack Parker. A good man who’d died because of him.

Cosmo reflected, maybe, just maybe, he’d backed the wrong horse on this one.

It had been a good idea to start with. Superpowers were wrong and made the world a twisted mess, so getting rid of them made sense. But were the heroes to blame for that? Was the city? He’d done everything he could legally, supporting the right politicians, secretly funding the D.U.M.B., and when that didn’t work, summoning Dark Dragon. But that hadn’t worked either. It was all for nothing. Whatever higher powers might be responsible, they were not smiling on him. Maybe they didn’t approve.

His reverie was cut off by a sound from the corridor. Tapping heels on concrete. Besides himself, the prison was empty, not even containing other prisoners, everyone having been moved to make sure no one helped him. Even the guards kept their distance.

Cosmo peered through the bars, spying his visitor. It was a woman, tall, thin, with the demeanour of a blade. She wore a dark suit and heels, with blue eyeshadow.

“Miss Cobalt? What a strange pleasure to see you here,” Cosmo said, eyeing her warily.

“Cosmo,” she greeted. “I just thought I’d come see you before they lock you in a hole and lose the key.”

“And the guards actually let you in?”

“Technically. A small bribe and he thinks he’s letting your lawyer in here.”

“Quite frankly, Miss Cobalt, I’m more surprised you’re not in a cell too.” He examined her wrists to make sure she wasn’t cuffed. “You were arrested for stealing the Sword of Songs.”

“You mean my mission to contain a dangerous artefact,” Cobalt said with a political air. “My use of outsiders to avoid detection was seen as unorthodox, but necessary.”

“That’s a funny way to describe hiring Boar-Gular to steal it for you.”

“My methods are varied, but effective. Ultimately the D.U.M.B. is a government agency, and Uncle Sam doesn’t like the press to see their mistakes. So, until the politicians decide what to do with me, I’m innocent in the eyes of the law.”

“With at least five witnesses to you trying to shoot Judgement?”

“She was interfering in a governmentally sanctioned operation, Mr Derringer. I merely defended myself. Beyond that, it’s the word of a bunch of spandex freaks versus me and my men. And you, of course, but you’re a criminal and a liar, so who cares what you say?”

Cosmo rolled his eyes. “Why are you here, Cobalt, not that I don’t appreciate the visit?”

Cobalt smiled. “While I don’t think my superiors will arrest me, I have my doubts about my job security going forwards. But there is still work to be done. Supers left to stop. The mission unfinished.”

“I can’t exactly help you.” He held up his hands to show his manacles.

“Oh, you’d be surprised, Cosmo.” Her smile grew sharper. “I’ve been in contact with a few friends. Mutual acquaintances, you might say. There are certain resources from your operation that would be of use to me.”

“You might have noticed that they’ve stripped all my assets.”

Cobalt’s face faltered. “God, you’re dense,” she muttered as her smile twitched. “You might have lost everything, but these friends of ours said you could point me in the right direction.”

“And which friends might those be?”

“I’m sure they’d prefer to stay anonymous, but you know them. Grim demeanour, religious temperament, like to wear black… Enjoy fancy dress.” She covered her face, miming a mask.

Cosmo’s eyes went wider. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. I think your information might be… apocryphal,” he said, straining the word with weight.

Cobalt just glared. “Shall we cut to the chase? The guard shouldn’t be listening, but we both know who I mean. Certain former employees of your operation… or employees of your former business partner, specifically.”

“Yes, I get it. What resources did you want from me?”

“Information mostly. Contact numbers and the like,” she said with a meaningful stare. “Specifically, I want to know how to contact said old business partner.”

“He was destroyed, Cobalt. Gone.”

“We both know it isn’t that simple. He always returns.”

“You want to go looking for Dark-” Cosmo stopped himself, eyeing the corridor just to be sure no one was eavesdropping. A death glare from Cobalt only tied his tongue tighter.

“I have a proposition for him, Cosmo. To pick up where you left off. And if you point me in the right direction, I might just have a finder’s fee for you.”

“A finder’s fee?”

“A little present from our mutual friends,” she said. “So… How do I- ahem- check your references?”

Cosmos sat on his bench, turning the possibilities over in his head.

The mission unfinished…

“Suppose you were to go to the ruins of Cosmo Tower,” he said languidly, as if it meant nothing. “Across the plaza there’s an old coffee shop with a cellar entrance in the alley. It’s an old historical building, some of those old service tunnels. In fact, it’s around there that I first started. Who knows what you might find. Perhaps even a tome of ancient lore, one that speaks of certain dark rituals and how to perform them. Summoning rituals, specifically.”

Cosmo paused as a thought occurred.

“You’ve shut down the cameras down here so this won’t be recorded?” he guessed.

“They’re on a loop, but I’m sure they’ll just blame you for that,” Cobalt grinned cruelly.

“Why not? They can’t lock me up more than this.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll try though.”

“I’m sure too.”

Cobalt smiled. It sent a chill down Cosmo’s spine. “Well ,thank you, Cosmo. I suppose you’ve held up your end of the bargain. Here’s your present, from our mutual friends.”

Cobalt handed something through the bars. Cosmo took it, turned over the card, and frowned.

“Is this a joke?” he asked with arched eyebrows. “A ‘Get out of Jail Free’ Card?” It had the word Chance printed on the back.

“You know I don’t joke, Cosmo. Now, I have to be off. I have a friend to go and meet.”

“I feel like saying good luck would be inappropriate,” Cosmo said sardonically.

“Oh, I don’t need luck, Cosmo,” Cobalt said, then marched back out the way she came.

Once her heels vanished from earshot, the prison was silent again. Cosmo looked at the card in his hand, both infuriated and amused by it.

As he flipped it, the card crackled with red lightning.

Cosmo recoiled, then grinned to the brink of laughter. He stood, placed the card on the wall of his cell, and then took a step back.

“A Get Out Of Jail Free card,” he muttered.

The card stayed where it was put, sparked with crimson magic, and erupted into flames. The flames spread, formed a large oval on the wall, before the centre turned clear. Rather than show the brick behind it, it showed a street somewhere downtown.

“She really doesn’t joke,” Cosmo shook his head, and stepped through the portal, which promptly closed behind him.

* * *

The bar was relatively quiet, with it being the middle of the day, and also in a less than optimum location. It was a choice watering hole for those who didn’t want to be disturbed, but still wanted to maintain a social atmosphere. Not quite a dive, but certainly on the board over the pool.

“You come here often?” 14 asked, Lucy sitting across from him carrying two glasses.

“Not really,” she said, passing one to him. “I usually go to a cop bar, with my friends from the station. I just didn’t think they’d be very receptive of… someone like you.”

“I guess in most people’s eyes I’m still a crook,” 14 considered happily.

“You literally saved the city three days ago.”

“And look how many people even recognise me,” 14 bragged. “Anyway, detective, I suppose it’s time for my official debrief.”

“Just dotting ‘I’s and crossing ‘T’s. Besides, I’ve got a list of questions McElroy wants answered first.”

“Oh god. How many pages?”

“Just the one… though it was a negotiation.” Lucy produced the document. “Question One: What is your full name?”

“McElroy regularly deals with superheroes. How does that question go down with them?”

“It doesn’t. They refuse, he moves on.”

“Thought so… and you know my full name. You heard me say it on that rooftop… Were you close enough to hear that?” he tried to remember.

“I do remember, Edmond, but privacy is privacy. If the heroes get to refuse, you should get the choice too. In theory, this is just for the paperwork, though McElroy will be expecting a signature, if only at the bottom of the form.”

“Then Henchman 14 will do just fine. I didn’t get into this line of work to be remembered.”

This earned a curious look from Washburn. “This line of work? Is heroism your line now?”

“Hell no, I meant grunt work. The job description was just more extensive than I originally thought.”

“When requested, must wield superpowered sword. Degree in stooging essential,” Lucy joked. “No time wasters.”

“Yeah, that bit wasn’t in the interview,” 14 laughed.

“So, that’s your name. Next question-” Lucy began, but 14 held up a hand.

“Detective, how many of these questions could you answer on your own?”

Lucy counted. “More than half?” she guessed.

“And the other half?”

“Question 9: What did it feel like to wield the Sword of Songs?” She paused. “That can’t possibly be relevant to the paperwork.”

“In answer, it felt odd. Like an entire musical production in my soul.”

“A musical production?”

“I don’t know, just felt like a musical analogy was apt,” 14 said, sipping his beer. “But besides a humming in my heart, it didn’t really feel too different. It was like… It was like confidence, comfortable and in control. It just felt like… me, I guess.”

“Huh,” Lucy listened. “Sounds like the sensation of being drunk, honestly.”

“A little bit…” 14 nodded. “Speaking of, how’s your drink?”

Lucy glanced down at her glass. “It’s fine,” she said noncommittally.

“If you’re sure. You’ve not touched it… Wait, did you order a water?”

Lucy narrowed her gaze. “It’s the middle of the work day, 14.”

“Well, yeah, you just don’t seem…” 14 stopped himself. “Sorry, it isn’t my place to judge people’s drinking habits… beyond asking for their IDs when I tend bar.”

“And what? You’re just surprised I didn’t order a beer?” Lucy challenged.

“I had you down as a whiskey girl, honestly, but yes. We could have had this meeting at a coffee shop, or outside somewhere. But you invited us here, to a bar. It’s just…” 14 stopped himself again. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be analysing people. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Lucy glowered, but she couldn’t maintain it. A tiny worm of guilt wriggled in her gut. She glanced down at her list of questions, and pushed them aside, returning her attention to him.

“This bar was… It was one of my favourite hangouts,” she threw him a bone. “I haven’t been here in a while, because I’ve been off alcohol.”

“Any specific reason, not that there needs to be one? It’s a healthy choice.”

“It’s a little silly,” Lucy gave a small sigh. “I told you about Jack Parker, right?”

“Of course. Good cop, great arresting officer, or so I hear, gentle with the handcuffs and never kicked the prisoners. A good man.”

“Well, Jack Parker didn’t drink. Just a lifestyle choice of his, he didn’t want to. But, back when I was a rookie, he brought me here, to this bar. That evening was incredibly awkward, as he didn’t drink and I didn’t want to if he wasn’t, so we just sat there uncomfortably for over an hour, totally sober. Finally, he broke the quiet, made a joke about sober silences, and we both laughed. From there, it kind of became an inside joke between us. That he’d offer to buy drinks, but we both knew it was nonsense.”

“I guess you had to be there,” 14 commented, trying not to be rude.

“It was from that day that Jack sort of became my mentor. He taught me how to be a detective… at least some of the finer details. He was a good man, and since his death, I’ve tried to honour him. As such, I’ve quit alcohol, like him. It’s a small stupid tribute, I know, but-”

“That’s quite sweet actually,” 14 said kindly.

Lucy glared, but asked for no pity. “He was my friend and my mentor, and then he died. It consumed me for months trying to work out his killer, and you even helped me try to solve that. And then, wonder of wonders, you essentially avenged Jack by killing Dark Dragon. So, for that, I have to thank you. So… thank you.”

“Oh,” 14 said in surprise.

“That’s why I wanted to debrief you myself. So I could talk to you. Thank you, for letting me finally put this all to rest.”

“It’s no trouble,” 14 murmured, not really sure what to say. A little smile curled his lip. “To Jack Parker.” He raised his glass. “Didn’t really know the man, but I hear he was a hell of a copper. Cheers.”

Lucy smiled back. “To Jack Parker.” She raised her glass in turn. “Rest in peace, buddy.”

They both half-downed their drinks, before Lucy turned back to the list of questions.

“Alright. I’ve only got a few more, then you can get back to Intellitron.”

“No rush,” 14 shrugged, taking another sip of his beer.

“Well, I do have a rush. Between Cosmo and everything else, I’ve got to get back. But… if I have any further questions, I won’t hesitate to call you, Henchman 14,” Lucy smiled.

“And I’ll be happy to answer,” 14 returned.

“Cheers,” she held up her water again. “Cheers to Hero City.”

“Cheers, to this chaotic place we call home,” he agreed.

They clinked their drinks, and with that, got back to the questions, smiling as they went.

* * *

And so, the camera pans out, floating up to show the skyline of Hero City. The lights, the clouds, the caped crusaders taking to the sky. But for today, sadly, the legends of Hero City have come to a close. Detectives and heroes, henchmen and sidekicks, villains and crooks. A city of stories, just waiting to be told.

And do you know what? Perhaps we’ll have just one more.

Just for the hell of it.

#writeblr #writing #lamura dex writes!#writing community #writers on tumblr #comedy #superheroes #short story #short stories #Tales of Hero City #19 #Chorus #Henchman 14 #Justice Girl #Justice Man #Mr Intellitron #Madame Mechanism #Judgement #Night Guard / Stealth Watcher II #Stealth Watcher #Detective Lucy Washburn #Cosmo Derringer #Janice Cobalt #An Ending

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