Chapter 142

  They’d spent the better part of half an hour catching up. Light appetizers had appeared at some point, small bites that paired well with the wine. The duck breast would take time to prepare properly, but neither of them minded.

  Julia set down her glass and looked at his left arm.

  “How is it?” she asked. “Everything you hoped?”

  Alexander flexed his fingers, watching the movement. The question made him smile despite himself.

  “Better,” he said. “I remember telling you when we were kids that I’d be so cool with one. That I’d be unstoppable.”

  “You were very certain about it,” Julia said. Her expression softened with the memory. “I remember you spending an entire week drawing diagrams of the ultimate laser-sword-gun-arm.”

  “I was an idiot.”

  “You were ambitious.” She tilted her head. “So? Was young Alexander right?”

  He considered the question seriously. The arm had made him more powerful. That much was obvious. The integration with his powers alone had opened possibilities he was still exploring. But that wasn’t what came to mind first.

  “Yes, but… it’s how natural it feels,” Alexander said. “That’s what I didn’t expect. As long as I’m not looking at it, I can’t tell the difference. It just feels like my arm. Like it’s always been there.”

  Julia’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

  “I think my powers help. The integration works both ways. The arm responds to my power, but my power also treats it like part of me.” He flexed his hand again. “It exceeded my expectations in every way that matters.”

  She watched him for a moment, something warm in her expression. Then she lifted her glass.

  “I’m glad.”

  They sipped their wine in comfortable silence. Through the glass barrier, ships moved in slow patterns across the void, running lights tracing paths through the black. The station arm curved away endlessly, a constellation of its own making.

  Alexander turned back to her.

  “We spent hours talking about my life,” he said. “Both versions of it. Your turn. What happened after you started training?”

  Julia’s smile became wry. “My family put me through hell first. They wanted to make sure I was ready for the injection. And that I got the right powers.”

  “How bad was it?”

  “My mother is very thorough when she sets her mind to something.” She said it lightly, but Alexander caught the weight beneath the words.

  Julia’s family had always been intense, even before superpowers had changed everything.

  She continued, staring down at her wine glass.

  “Ever since my family gained powers, since we became one of the prominent families... it’s been nothing but obsession. Everything revolves around it. Who’s strongest. Who’s most useful. What alliances we can leverage.” She looked up at him. “My father is the only one who still seems sane. Who remembers we’re supposed to be a family first.”

  Alexander nodded. Her father had always been the reasonable one. Warm, even. He’d married into the family, which probably explained it.

  “What’s the training actually like?” Alexander asked carefully.

  Julia’s expression darkened slightly. “Three months of borderline physical abuse. The only thing that keeps it from crossing the line is that it’s all your choice. Whether to give up each day. Each minute. They push you until you break or until you prove you won’t.”

  She took a sip of wine. “My mother believes that anyone who can’t handle three months of that has no business taking the serum.”

  “That’s...”

  “Brutal,” Julia finished. “I know. But she’s right. It’s worked for nearly everyone in our family so far.” She paused. “I don’t blame her for that. Got the powers I wanted. I just wish she’d remember why we have them.”

  Alexander waited.

  “I’m worried about what they’re going to do,” Julia said finally, her voice growing softer. “When things get worse. When the System escalates. I keep thinking about what kind of methods they’ll justify then. What they’ll demand from the younger members of the family.”

  Alexander reached across and squeezed her hand briefly.

  “Your father was always cool,” he said. “I’m not surprised he still is. And I understand it can’t be easy, not knowing what’s coming. Not being able to change it. But I know you’ll be there to help them when they need it.”

  Julia managed a small smile. “Thanks.”

  “Just let me know if you need my help to kick your mother’s ass.”

  She snorted. “She’s Tier 3. Pretty sure she’d spank us both.”

  Alexander changed the subject. “What about the AEGIS training?”

  “Exactly what I needed,” Julia said. “They taught me how to fight properly. How to work with a team, and how to handle fame without losing myself in it. When the training was done, my family and Max’s pitched in together to form the Throne of Scales. It was a joint venture, but Max runs it without interference. That was the condition.”

  “How’s that working?”

  “Well enough.” Julia picked at one of the appetizers. “Becoming a hero was everything I’d imagined it would be. At first.”

  Alexander heard the shift in her tone. “Until things got complicated?”

  “Until things got complicated,” she agreed. She met his eyes. “But I still enjoy the work. I still feel like it’s the right thing to do. That hasn’t changed.”

  The silence that followed felt heavier than before. Julia stared out at the view, her expression thoughtful.

  “I’ve been thinking about forming my own team,” she said finally.

  Alexander wasn’t surprised. “How would that work?”

  “I’m not sure yet.” Julia turned back to him. “We already have four core teams. Either I split off, maybe take Raelene with me and start another. Or Max steps back to run the guild side of things and I take over leadership of the first team.” She paused. “I haven’t decided. It’s a big change.”

  Alexander smiled to himself. He had a feeling he knew what she’d decide. “Whichever way you go, I’m sure you’ll do great.”

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  “Thanks.”

  The server returned, carefully setting plates before them. The duck breast looked perfect, the skin crispy and golden, cherry sauce pooled beside it. Steam rose as Alexander cut into his portion, revealing the tender pink meat inside.

  They ate in silence for a while.

  “Do you know about the guild interface?” Alexander asked between mouthfuls.

  Julia nodded, swallowing her bite. “We unlocked ours after we received a quest as a team. Had to take out a group of villains operating in the Seattle area.”

  “You operate that far out of California?”

  She nodded. “We’re taking over a lot of the smaller guilds along the West Coast. Means we travel a lot. To negotiate and set terms. After we’ve vetted them, of course.”

  Alexander thought for a few moments. “Recruiting entire guilds instead of one hero at a time… that’s smart.”

  Julia smiled. “Raelene’s idea.”

  He nodded. “About the guild quest, what were the rewards?”

  “We got some free attribute points.” She cut another piece of her duck. “Nothing dramatic, but still useful.”

  Alexander considered that. “Have you seen anything better than that? Other rewards?”

  “Yes, actually. Our third team was rewarded with equipment upgrades. High-quality gear adapted to their powers. Nobody knew that was even possible.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Grimnir unlocked it?” Julia asked.

  He nodded. “And the rewards were something else. Everyone in Grimnir got something. Those of us with powers can gain a skill—”

  Her eyes widened. “That’s pretty good.”

  Alexander continued. “Those who don’t have powers have an option to complete a whole step in the awakening process.”

  Julia gasped. “What?”

  “The rewards gave us information about how awakening works,” Alexander said. “There are three steps. The first is a catalyst, which for most people means the serum. The second step is soul reinforcement, which we think most of the aliens we rescued failed. And the third is reaching a threshold in Willpower.”

  Julia set down her fork, processing what he’d just told her.

  “That explains a lot,” she said finally. “About why so many people fail to awaken.”

  “That’s what we thought.”

  She picked up her wine glass but didn’t drink immediately. “On the topic of aliens and powers,” Julia said carefully. “I wanted to ask about Felix…”

  Alexander paused.

  “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it,” Julia added quietly.

  “I don’t mind,” he said slowly, considering how to word it. “But it’s his story to tell, so I can only give the basics.”

  She nodded.

  Alexander continued. “You know that we were going after Santiago Systems. We pulled information off the servers where we fought in Argentum, discovered they had a secret facility, and that they were conducting experiments on aliens. Felix is one of the survivors. They tested a modified serum on all the aliens we rescued, but only Felix awakened.”

  “That explains the bounty that their CEO put on you.”

  “You don’t seem very surprised.”

  She shook her head. “Raelene hasn’t stopped investigating them since she started looking into what happened to you. I think even Max was hoping she’d find something.”

  “They get away with a lot.” Alexander sighed. “When I found Felix, he was… not in a good way. None of the aliens were, but… I was angry about what was being done to Felix. I killed the man responsible.”

  Julia absorbed that without flinching. “Who?”

  “Dr. Miller.”

  She frowned. “The supervillain who Santiago Systems recruited and claimed was reformed?”

  “He was wanted?”

  “Highly.” Julia set down her glass. “Well, before they captured him. Then some years later, they said he was being released on good behavior and joining a special program. AEGIS retracted his bounty after that, though it all happened years before the System revealed itself. Otherwise it would have been quite the payout.”

  Alexander shook his head. “It wasn’t about the bounty.”

  “I know. And I understand.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “Do you think everyone would be better off if a serum like that actually made it to market? If anyone could buy it?”

  “It’s already happening.”

  Julia looked at him sharply.

  “We stole the research,” Alexander said. “Gave it to partners who are planning to sell it.”

  She studied him for a few seconds. Her expression was hard to read.

  “I’m glad it wasn’t my decision,” Julia said finally. “I can’t imagine weighing that.”

  Alexander took a sip of wine. “It’s already happening. Getting it out there will just… speed things up. And beating the mega-corps to it means they can’t control the supply. Strangle it.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to look at it.” Julia’s mouth curved slightly. “Everything really is changing fast.”

  They finished their meal with lighter conversation, trading stories about mutual acquaintances and speculating about what the next few months might bring. Eventually, the server returned to clear their plates.

  “Would either of you care for anything else?” the alien asked.

  Julia shook her head, then paused. “Actually, do you have ice cream?”

  The server’s skin brightened, shifting through several shades of blue before settling. “We do indeed. I must warn you, however, that it is not made fresh. We use it primarily for toppings on certain exotic dishes.”

  “I don’t mind,” Julia said, smiling. “Could I get some?”

  “Of course. What type would you like?”

  “Strawberry.”

  The server turned to Alexander. “And for you?”

  “Anything chocolate.”

  “Excellent choices. We have both.”

  The alien departed, leaving them alone with the view once more. Alexander leaned back in his seat. The ships outside continued their slow dance through the void.

  When the server returned, it carried two small bowls. Julia’s strawberry ice cream was a soft pink, Alexander’s chocolate a deep brown with black swirls. They accepted them with thanks.

  Julia took a bite and closed her eyes, savoring it. “Perfect.”

  Alexander tried his own. Licking, not biting. He’d never understood how she could just bite right into ice cream without suffering. The chocolate was rich and smooth, better than he’d expected for something that traveled thousands of light-years, from one freezer to another.

  They ate slowly, watching the stars through the glass. The silence between them had shifted again. Still comfortable, but weighted with things not yet said.

  Julia set down her empty bowl.

  “Alexander,” she said quietly. “We should talk about the reality thing.”

  Alexander set down his own bowl.

  “Yeah,” he said. “We should.”

  Julia was quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Then she met his gaze.

  “I’ve been thinking about this. About what it means that you’re from another reality.” She paused. “And I feel so many ways about it. I should be upset and grieving, but it’s hard when you’re still here. Still you.”

  He waited.

  “I’m sure it will hurt at some point. Or maybe it won’t, because I’ll never be able to wrap my head around it. So I haven’t managed to resolve how I’m meant to feel, but I know that I’ve missed you.” She took a deep breath. “So I’m choosing to live with the uncertainty rather than let it stop me.”

  Alexander felt something ease in his chest. Relief. Gratitude, maybe. He couldn’t quite name it, but it was the same feeling he’d felt when Frank had simply accepted that he was still Alexander despite the insanity.

  He reached across the small space between their seats and took her hand.

  “I’ve missed you too,” he said. “And I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let it be a lie between us. I know I’m asking a lot.”

  “You’re not asking anything,” Julia said. “I’m choosing.”

  He squeezed her hand gently. “Thank you.”

  They sat like that for a while, hands linked, watching the stars through the glass. The weight of the conversation settled between them, but it felt different now. Resolved.

  Julia spoke again, softer this time. “This won’t be easy. I don’t know what it will become. But we can figure it out as we go. Take it slow.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “How slow are we talking?”

  Julia laughed, the beautiful sound breaking some of the remaining tension. “I’m not talking about tonight,” she said, meeting his eyes directly. “But the rest of it? The relationship part? That’s what needs time.”

  Alexander’s mouth curved. “Fair enough.”

  Julia glanced toward the exit, then back at him.

  “We should probably go,” she said. “Before they start charging us for the view.”

  “Where to?” Alexander asked. “I’m guessing neither of us wants to head back to where we’re staying.”

  “Raelene will ask questions.” Julia grimaced. “Cash is nosy. I’m not dealing with that tonight.”

  “And Droney already warned me that Annie is waiting to ambush us.”

  Julia laughed again. “So we’re both avoiding our friends.”

  “Just like old times.”

  They stood and made their way back out, taking care of the bill and exchanging pleasantries with the host.

  As they stepped out into the hallway, he offered his hand.

  She took it without hesitation.

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