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Chapter 14
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“Hey, you made it!” said Princess Undercut to War Lagoon, who entered the meeting room where she and Psi Wizard had been waiting.

War said, “I’m more surprised that you’re here, Tatiana. I thought you had work today.”

“I called in a favor from my big brother. He’s filling in for me at work, because there’s no way I’m missing this. Someone called for a party, and I'm here.”

“Still no sign of Warren, huh?”

Psi Wizard and Princess Undercut shrugged. None of them had seen Mortar Mage all week, and all that any of them had heard was the message he left days earlier. Not even the base’s computer answered War’s question.

The entrance chimed repeatedly for a couple of seconds. All three heroes decided they couldn’t wait to see who it was that had entered, and they made their way for the corridor leading to the exit.

“Wait here a bit,” said Mary to her mages when they entered the base. She stepped forward prior to the arrival of the heroes on the other end of the hallway. “Hey, guys.”

Princess Undercut said, “What the . . . ? No, wait, the defense system!”

Mary continued walking past the turrets and protective field generators, which did nothing as she did so. The computer even said, “Welcome back, Adamast Cross.”

Those words were what ultimately stopped Mary. She looked up and turned after passing the initial defenses. Curiosity preoccupied her for a moment before she said, “He got it working! But, that voice; I know it from somewhere.”

“Who are you?” Princess Undercut asked.

“Adamast. Didn’t you hear the computer?”

“You’re a woman. With horns. Who are these people with you? They look like the three mages we saw on the TV the other day. No, stay back, I want some answers. This has to be a Circle trick.”

“I’m pretty sure Mortar and Walter installed a defensive barrier against such tampering. I’m glad the computer recognizes me. I guess my D-N-A isn’t too far off from what it used to be since the demon transformed my body to look more like she did centuries ago. You three look so surprised by this. Didn’t Mortar say anything to you?”

War answered, “We haven’t seen or heard from him in a few days.”

Everyone shared an awkward pause before the blue pillar of light chimed once more.

Mortar Mage hummed a random tune when he rode the portal energy into the Dallevan League’s base. He’d barely walked two paces when he realized that he was surrounded by the three mages from that estate, and Mary was standing halfway down the first corridor. Yet, he continued to hum his tune, and took more steps into the base.

“Hey, Mortar,” said Maryann, “Good to see you again.”

Meanwhile, Mortar sidestepped around Mary outside of arms’ length, and he responded, “Yeah, likewise, Mary.”

“Sorry about before.”

“It’s no problem. You were kind enough to let me fly out of there.”

That was true enough. Mary’s demon memories had taken over, but, before she could go all the way and touch her friend, the succubus had pointed to the door and let him go.

Psi Wizard chuckled, and said, “The two of you aren’t telling us something, alright. Mortar, why are you being friendly but avoiding her all the same?”

“Textile hypnosis, wasn’t it?” asked Mary.

Mortar replied, “Tactile, but yes.”

“So close!”

“Why don’t you all come in, and we’ll talk somewhere more comfortable? Oh, right. Sean, Genine, and Max, correct? Computer, we have visitors. Let them pass, please.”

The computer said, “Right away,” and the scanning light spread across all three mages. “You are now free to explore the premises. Warning: one foot out of line may result in revoked privileges, and possibly death. Have a nice day.”

Mary shook her head, “I’m sure I know that voice. Mortar, when did you get the scanner to work on more than one person at a time? Also, where’ve you been? The others tell me you have been away for some time.”

Everyone ventured into the meeting room, and Mortar explained, “I updated the scanner Monday morning before the Event hit. It was easy enough. As for my whereabouts, I’ve just been busy with work. I suddenly had an influx of articles to review and format for SAM Monthly.”

“Amazing,” exclaimed Max, “you work for Science and Mysticism Monthly?”

“I’m one of the founding members, writers, and chief editor. Are you a fan?”

“I am! I can’t believe I’d meet a man such as yourself, sir.”

“Well, maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll autograph an issue for you.” There were a few cleared throats then. It forced Mortar to get back on track. “Anyways, I got that done after I had left your estate. Only a day later, actually. Which reminds me, Computer, you can cross off my project about finding out where this base is. And cancel the back entrance as well.”

“Affirmative,” said the computer, “Four hundred. Eighty. THREE projects remaining.”

“See, after I finished up with work, I surveyed the watery depths surrounding this base and the estate. I meant to find a safe place to create an auxiliary tunnel or an alternative route for one of my own portals between here and the outside. The bad news is I could not make a new exit or entry for us all to use. The good news is that I might have found a means to safely feed water into one of our back rooms for a shower or something of similar nature. I have more tests on the way.”

Mary moaned in contempt.

Princess Undercut said, “Please don’t destroy this base, Mortar.”

“I’ll try,” said Mortar. “Now that we’re all here and getting comfortable, I believe Maryann has a reason for calling us all here other than reconnecting with old friends.”

All eyes fell on Mary, who said, “I do.”

“I’ll let you explain then. I have a little something to do over here.” Mortar began to tinker with a computer console at the corner of one wall.

This led to Mary taking a deep breath as everyone settled in the meeting room. She felt like she had far more to explain or say than she really did.

“I’ve been an idiot,” she said to everyone. “I should have come running when I awoke in this body, and was able to remember enough of who I am, but I know things now that I wouldn’t have known then. Kyra’s alive. Ohm Wire, I mean. I want to rescue her, but she’s being held in a Vambracemen facility. I don’t know which.”

War Lagoon whistled.

“Yeah. That makes things difficult for all of us, especially since a few others are no longer with us; and there’s more. I’m tired of living this way. I hate being a succubus, and not being able to touch a man, or to have sex without killing unless it’s with another woman. Too many men have died already because of it.”

Princess Undercut asked, “I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m starting to like it! The next time might be the one where I start harming good people just because I want a good lay. I promised myself long ago that I wouldn’t kill anyone, not because Paragon’s civilians and media like to pretend we never fight for our lives out there, but because I always hated the idea of taking another life. Now I’ve taken six in less than a week. I wouldn’t put it against you all to hate me for it.”

“I don’t. Remember when we fought the Circle in that cave on Saturday? I didn’t hold my punches. I might have killed a man, either by snapping his neck with my foot, or by letting those rocks fall on him when we left. I’m just as guilty as you are, but it seems we both know the value of life. What I mean to say is, don’t beat yourself up over it, and try not to make a habit of killing others.”

“And don’t get caught, obviously,” said Psi Wizard.

Mortar let his head hang while he continued to work. He never told anyone about all the deaths he was responsible for. Most people wouldn’t believe him if he did. He wiped the one tear from his eye while no one was looking, and kept entering information into the computer’s auxiliary console.

Psi Wizard, of course, felt something there, but he could not say what it was.

“I took a few during the war that Walter and I were in,” said War Lagoon, referring to his time in the military. “I take no satisfaction in their deaths, but I know how much better the world has become as a result, even if the world sucks at saying ‘thank you,' or consoling you for what you’ve done. I'm sure someone else would say the same if she could. David, Mary, you’re not alone. I won’t hold it against you if you won’t.”

Mary said, “Thank you, guys. When I can finally lose this touch thing of mine, I owe you all a good hug. Or a beer. Maybe both.”

“This touch thing, tactile hypnosis as Warren calls it, what does it do?”

“If a man and I come within contact with one another, then he feels the instant and insatiable need to fuck. I haven’t tried it on gay men, nor do I know how long the touch lasts.”

“Forty-five minutes is the norm,” interjected Mortar. It was a rare ability, but those who had it had it tested in the past.

“Really? Well, in any case, prolonged exposure leaves me progressively horny, and unable to think straight until I’ve done something about it. Then they expend their energy inside of me and die.”

The men all shifted uncomfortably.

Mortar clapped his hands. “Finally,” he said, “I think we’re ready. Computer, cue the projection.”

The base darkened around the meeting room, and the air above the table was lit up with a number of holographic images. One was the map of Paragon City with a few colored zones fading in and out in a slow rotation.

“Right,” Mortar went on, “Let me start by apologizing to everyone who was in Founder’s Creek on Monday. My fault, but I have every intention of improving the device that caused it so it won’t happen again.”

“Four hundred—“

“Not now, Computer."

“Warren,” said a few people around the room.

“But, because of that, we have some measurements within a twenty mile radius of this base. Mary, if that girl were in the area, and I ran the test before the Event, then I would have found her time capsule magic with this. Good on you for finding her, if that was indeed your doing. That all said, however, as we all know, the power disruption field known as The Event started at 2:16 in the afternoon, spanning eight miles across. Well, eight-point-zero-one-one, but who’s counting that fifty-eight feet and ninety-six hundredths of an inch anyway?”

Maryann pointed out, “That lavender circle to the side, before the end of the field, was my protective field, wasn’t it?” The circle was little smaller than the whole island by mere hairs, but it covered the entire estate.

“Yes, and I thank you for being relatively still during that half hour, or my ability to use fire and other magic would have been limited at best while I built the device.”

“How high above us is the estate?”

“The tabletop here is one hundred five feet from wherever you were sitting or standing at the time. Let’s not get into more detail than that.”

“Let’s not,” she repeated in total agreement.

“There was a much smaller field like Mary’s inside the city. It was only big enough for one person.” A lavender dot on the map enlarged into security footage from inside the jail area of a Vambracemen base. “Observe.”

Everyone who could recognize Ohm Wire gasped when they saw her. The time read 2:16, and she attacked the barrier holding her cell after one man had been shot by his allies. All of the heroes around the room were able to recall the man as one of their own, but they kept watching while Ohm Wire broke free. With a blinding speed, she cut down the two men still standing. Then her electric power exploded through the room, and knocked out the camera.

“That was during The Event,” exclaimed Psi Wizard.

“It was, in the beginning of it to be precise.” returned Mortar Mage.

“Her power isn’t technology based, though, is it?”

“Right again. Remember, Mary projected a protective field. Two of them actually. One affected the estate she’s been staying at, as well as the space we’re all staring at, and the other allowed Ohm Wire to do as she needed with her powers during the half hour that the rest of us could not use our magic or superpowers.”

“But, how?”

“Are you familiar with radio frequencies and color spectrums?”

“Yes.”

“Good, because that is a terrible comparison, and it’s the best I got. I think the real question is how she was able to project herself across town, and interact with people physically.” Pictures popped up of two men dead from backstabbing wounds, both of whom were the only people to have been kicked out of the League. “Who here saw her ghost on Monday? Raise your hands. Princess, Psi, War . . . OK. Me too, though I had no way of recognizing her since I only saw Ohm Wire the one time at the Freakshow hideout.”

The computer projected a still image of Kyra eating some Asian cuisine from a to-go box on top of the meeting room table.

“Really, Computer? You didn’t tell me you had a picture of her?”

The computer said, “You never asked.”

Princess Undercut said dryly, “I do hope that’s the only one.”

“Now deleting: five hundred sixty-four images over the course of Ohm Wire’s visit, forty inappropriate for the eyes of: children.”

“Ooh, let me see!”

“Will you both knock that off?” asked Mortar, starting to get more serious.

The computer said, “Mortar Mage. Designated: a buzzkill.”

Everyone laughed. Mortar pinched his glabella*, nearly removing his mask as a result. Ultimately, he let them have their fun, which died down on its own.

War Lagoon said, “So we know how she got out of that cell. Mary said that Kyra was taken captive by the Vambracemen a second time it sounds like. So, where is she, and how do we save her?”

“Good questions,” said Mortar. “They have some sophisticated security at their main base in the city, so hacking their footage won’t be as easy as when I nabbed what we saw before and deleted it from their own files. I will need time to track her down.”

Mary shook her head, saying, “I don’t believe it. You all believe me, and you’re willing to help me. To help her.”

“If you and Mortar both say you’re David, then you’re David. Or were, whatever,” said Princess Undercut. “You’re back with us now, is what I’m saying.”

Mortar said, “I’ve had a long time, longer than you know, to think about it. We’ve lost a lot of people already. Some of it because we rushed into things. Some of it because we acted in doubt. At least one because we didn't do enough. I think it’s time we all stopped losing the people we care about. You all know what I’m like, but I’ll let you all in on a secret. I’m complacent as hell, and I’m not going to let things go the way they have been. I have my serious side, and it’s time I showed it.”

“Now you’re talking sense,” said War. “I’m in.”

Princess Undercut said, “I liked that girl for the short time we knew her. We’re busting her out, no matter who the Vambracemen think they are.”

Psi Wizard replied, “Nothing impressive from me. I just want to help.”

“I’ll help too!” exclaimed the three mages, though not quite in unison.

“Great,” said Maryann, “Now we just need a giant safety pin, and maybe some gum, and we’re good to go. How long do you need to find Kyra?”

Mortar checked the computer console, and said, “You might want to order takeout. Maybe take a nap.” Cue War Lagoon snoring in the corner of the room, though he was faking it this time. “If I’m lucky, then this will go quick, and we can rescue Ohm Wire tonight. Otherwise, expect to be able to go early tomorrow morning.”

“You do, of course, realize what this might do to our public opinion?”

“Leave that to me.”