“You’re
offering me…a job?” Tony had sat speechless for a few minutes after what Ken
told him. Even now it wasn’t registering. “But I have a job on Frontier.”
“I
understand that Tony,” Ken said, sipping his beer, “but Frontier is a superhero
team. Frontier exists to protect the people of Hopling, and while that is
extremely useful and honorable, there is still the rest of the world to think
about. Licensed superheroes only have an active participation span of five years
on average. Of course you have the big names, like Fist, Burnout, and the
likes, who created a career out of it. But most have their fun, fight the good
fight for a few years, then retire from the superhero life to escape the
pressure and danger. So for those who show power and promise at a young age,
well…,” Ken paused and shrugged, “we just don’t want the powerful youths
burning out or dying off before they can really put their powers to good use.”
Tony
swallowed, not sure how to take this. “So what job are you offering?” He
remembered Cure mentioning that people were watching him, hoping for a full
recovery. Could she have meant the head of the GMA?
“You
know what I’m offering, Tony,” Ken smiled for the first time since he sat down.
“I’m asking if you want to be a field agent of the GMA.”
“An agent?”
Tony asked bewildered.
“Yes
Tony. You would be using your powers to help the entire world, not just the
city of Hopling. You’d be working alone, most likely. This would be a job,
meaning vacation time, sick days, benefits, the works. Good pay, too. Only the
best for the GMA field agents.”
Tony
considered what was being offered. This was big; a step up in the metahuman
community. Freedom, power, the ability to go anywhere in the world…it was a
tempting offer. But he’d lose his fans. And more importantly…
“I
don’t know about this. Does Steve know you’re offering this to me?”
Ken
shrugged. “It was never verbally expressed, but Steve is a sharp guy. He knows
we’ve been watching you. And if you’re worried about Frontier, I’d stop. They
will survive without you, Tony.”
Tony
nodded, still unsure. “How long can I think about it?”
“There’s
no due date,” Ken said after finishing his beer and standing up. “But don’t
wait too long. Every day you wait is another day you potentially take a bullet
a little more to the right.” Ken pointed to Tony’s chest, directly in the
center. “I would hate to see your life snuffed out before you really get
started, Tony. You know how to reach me when you’ve figured it out.”
Ken walked
back over the sand dunes and out of sight, leaving Tony sitting on the beach
alone contemplating this new opportunity.
“Basher?”
Marian stood gawking, not sure if this metahuman was serious or not. The last
time she saw the meta called Basher, he was crumpled beneath her feet and
unconscious. And he definitely did not look like this. The metahuman in front
of her was over seven feet tall and covered in tough, gray skin. The dome on
top of his head looked tough enough to bust through steel.
“That’s
right! I got me a whole lot of Fang, and look at me now!” Basher bellowed, the
sound filling the house and shaking the glass planes. His bulk had increased as
well, and after quickly eyeing him up Marian knew he was not going to go down
easy. She needed Matt’s help, and resolved to distract Basher long enough for
Matt to regain consciousness.
“But
how did you get out of jail?”
Basher
started laughing. “After that big break-out, they put me in some regular-ole
human prison. I was just about to break outta there myself when some rich guy
comes along and pays my bail. Flies me all the way down here too, and that’s
when I find he has boxes full of Fang, all for me!” Basher started beating his
hands on his chest, and Marian could hear that his skin had mutated into a
hard, rocky layer.
“Someone
brought you here? Why the hell would they do that? Did you kidnap Josh and
Melissa?”
Basher
kept laughing and pounding his chest. “You talk too much. Talking isn’t part of
the plan. I’m here to welcome you with a good bashing!”
Basher
lowered his head and charged forward, snorting like a charging rhino. Marian
turned and ran, hoping the walls would slow him down. They did, but only
slightly as he crashed right through them. As walls fell, the roof began to
collapse in certain spots.
I hope Matt’s okay, Marian thought as
she vaulted a wall, I gotta get Basher
away from the house!
Just
then Marian noticed she didn’t hear Basher following her anymore. Looking back,
she saw Basher squirming as Matt held him in the air.
“Put
me down! I need to bash her in! They won’t give me anymore Fang unless I bash
her real good!”
“Where
did you take Josh and Melissa?” Matt asked, his entire body lit up to hide his
features. The increased strength came from the amassed energy coursing through
his body, enhancing all his physical abilities.
“Take
them? I don’t know what you’re talking about! They told me to wait for you here
while they go get everything ready in the jungle!”
Matt’s
eyes went wide and he slammed Basher into the ground hard enough to knock him
out cold. Matt’s sudden violence shocked Marian, but she was too busy
registering what Basher had said to say anything to Matt. “They hired him!”
“We
were set up,” Matt growled, turning towards the jungle. “I sensed a group of
energies from there just before I got your call about the gunmen.”
Even
from ten feet away, Marian was almost knocked over by the waves of energy
wafting off Matt’s body. She had never seen him so angry before. “That’s how
they knew when we landed, and why they insisted on flying us here. It’s all
staged! But what are they doing out in the middle of the jungle?”
“Let’s
go find out,” Matt said through clenched teeth. He was livid for being turned
into some pop-stars’ puppet. “They wanted Frontier so badly, I’d hate to
disappoint.”
“Well,
you were one hundred percent correct about Basher, my dear. That idiot told
them everything he knew.”
“Which
thankfully was not much. Unfortunately they’ll arrive sooner than anticipated.”
“That’s
quite alright. We’ve been preparing for this day a long time. Hopefully Matt
makes up in power for the lack of other team members.”
“I’m
sure he’ll provide some fun for us. He’s definitely been a blast to watch.”
“You
are a pervert.”
“I
didn’t just mean the sex scenes. But that was a nice bonus.”
“Just
keep your focus. We’re about to start the greatest show we’ve ever hosted.”
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