Hero Unit (10 page)

“From the sounds of it you were hit by an
Anti squad. Likely they were going after Emily, but they might have
been trying to kill you both,” Torment said. Ace nodded. She was
used to this kind of thing. Antis were always trying to figure out
her weakness, the one thing that could hurt or kill her.

Torment sat down. She looked tired. “Captain
Angel and I think we have tracked down the HSO mole that recruited
Jim Parker. We are having trouble tracking her though. For now I
want you and Emily to go home and rest. You are going home under
heavy escort. We can’t afford to lose either of you at this point
in the investigation. She might be the only one who can find our
mole, and you are probably the only person capable of protecting
her.”

Ace didn’t bother arguing. She wanted to, but
what Torment was saying made sense. Right now she needed rest more
than anything. “You can go in and talk to your friend now,” Torment
said once Ace agreed.

Emily’s room was just like every other
hospital room Ace had ever seen. A TV bolted to the wall, a window
with gauzy curtains and a bed surrounded by machines. It also
smelled like disinfectant. Emily was sitting up in her bed. None of
the machines were hooked up to her. There was a bandage wrapped
around her head. “That’s three times now I owe you my life, Ace,”
she said.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Ace tried to
hold back the tears, but they came anyway. She sat in the chair
next to the bed and leaned against her one real friend. She tried
her best to fight back the flashbacks that were running through her
head.

She’s fine. Now just worry about keeping her
that way.

Emily stroked her hair and said, “I’m fine,
Ace. Moses has given me a relatively clean bill of health. All
that’s left are some bruises.”

Ace did her best to get herself under control
so she could explain. “Ace I understand. I know you pretty well by
now. It makes me happy to know I have a friend like you. And no I
don’t blame you and you shouldn’t blame yourself. You are amazing,
but even you, with all your power, have limitations.”

Ace nodded, grateful that Emily could read
her thoughts. Emily was like the family she couldn’t allow herself
to have. That made her pause, why was she allowing herself to get
close to someone when she had spent her entire career avoiding
friendships and any kind of family ties?

“Ace everyone needs to have someone in their
life, even you. I should say especially you. And don’t forget I
made the decision to involve myself. I’m not going to allow you to
take that from me. This was something I chose for myself. I was
well aware of the risks that would come from being your friend, so
no trying to drive me off or scare me away. I know what’s going on
in your head just as well as you do.”

What did I tell you?

Ace nodded and wiped her eyes. “Thank you
Emily,” she said.

“Again, I’m the one that should be thanking
you. Three times you’ve saved my life,” Emily said.

Just then Moses walked in. He was short,
skinny and balding. His round face was set in a perpetual look of
surprise. The glasses he wore were to help keep his powers in
check. He wasn’t technically classified as a Used, but he needed a
little extra assistance. “Oh, Ace good to see you. Did you want me
to do a check on you just in case?”

Moses was always looking for a chance to
examine her. He was set on finding what made her a Fifth. She
always let him and he never found anything, but Moses was nothing
if not determined. “If you want,” she said. She refrained from
sighing, or shaking her head. Moses meant well.

“Thank you. Now just stand up and I’ll take a
look,” Moses said.

Ace stood; arms at her side, relaxed. Moses
moved his glasses down and his eyes glowed green. Ace didn’t feel
anything as he studied her. It only took a minute for him to
finish. His eyes stopped glowing and he replaced his glasses with a
rueful smile. “You are in perfect health, as usual. No sign at all
that you were hit by an incendiary device, bullets and if I heard
correctly an experimental weapon that made Einstein swear.”

Ace shrugged. “Did you expect anything
less?”

Moses laughed. “No, not at all. I remember
doing your scan after you had a building fall on you. I was hoping
to maybe catch a glimpse as to why you are what you are, which I
think in turn would help us all understand the Exceptionals, but as
usual you appear like a normal everyday human.”

Ace couldn’t help but laugh. That was the
typical reaction from all Life Class Exceptionals that studied her
and the rest of the Exceptional Phenomenon. DNA tests, blood work,
hormone tests all came up negative for any irregularities. Not even
the oldest of the Exceptionals, Firsts who had survived even the
Exceptionals war, showed any internal signs of aging. They aged to
a certain point and then stopped somewhere between forty and fifty.
It still wasn’t certain if Exceptionals could die of old age.

“Anyway you are both free to go. Ms.
Carpenter, I would advise you take it easy for the next day or two.
Both of you go home and get some rest,” Moses said. He gave Ace a
look.

It’s like he’s dealt with you before.

“I’m already under orders to take it easy,”
Ace replied raising her hands.

“Good,” he said. He nodded to them both and
then left.

“I’ll wait out in the hall,” Ace said.

“I’ll just be a minute,” Emily replied.

Torment was still waiting outside the door.
She’d been joined by the rest of Ace’s team. There was an awkward
silence before Maniac said, “Einstein and I’ll get your truck back
up and running soon.”

“I appreciate it. I can forward you its
schematics if you want,” Ace said. She didn’t think Maniac needed
them, but she felt it necessary to offer them.

“Sure,” Maniac agreed with a smile.

“Are you sure you’re okay Ace?” Deuce asked.
He looked genuinely concerned for her.

“I’ll be okay. I’ve been in worse
situations,” Ace replied.

“We all know that kid, doesn’t mean we don’t
worry about you. We take care of our own,” Jacks said. Ace couldn’t
help it; she reached out and pulled Jacks into a quick hug. “Thank
you, all of you.”

I hope this eliminates your fears about them
accepting you.

Emily came out as Ace was releasing Jacks.
She smiled, but kept her thoughts to herself. “Ms. Carpenter, I’m
glad to see you are well,” Torment said.

Emily shrugged. “So am I.”

“On behalf of the E.E.D, I and my team
apologize for putting you in harm’s way. Such a situation, while
impossible to predict, was an unacceptable level of risk for
someone who is not a trained E.E.D officer,” Torment said. It was
an official statement. Ace knew that Torment actually meant it.

“Thank you, Officer Torment. You can inform
the E.E.D that I appreciate their concern and that I am still more
than willing to work with them as a consultant,” Emily replied. Ace
gave her credit for bravery. Not many people, Exceptional or not,
could handle a situation like what they’d just gone through.

Tougher than she looks.

“Are you sure?” Torment asked.

Emily nodded. “Absolutely. My life has been
in danger ever since the Technosis incident. I have spent too much
of my life feeling powerless. I want to help.”

“Very well, I will let my superiors know. And
thank you Emily for all you have done. Your assistance has been
invaluable.”

Maniac checked her device and said, “Their
ride should be here.”

Torment nodded. “We have a security
detachment to escort you home. We think the Anti that hit you was
Mayhem, so we brought Duck and Cover to keep you shielded until you
arrive.”

“We also have an armed escort. Whoever took a
shot at you is going to have a hell of a time with it if they try
again,” Jacks added. He was pissed. They all were. Someone had
attacked one of their own that made it personal. That really made
it sink in for Ace that her team actually accepted her

Again, I told you so.

“Alright everyone, let’s move,” Torment said
after checking her own device.

Once they reached the lobby weapons were
drawn by Ace’s teammates and she could see a heavy personnel
carrier waiting for them. It was the type used by the military when
they were sending soldiers into hot-zones where they expected
Exceptionals to be involved. In the driver’s seat was Bulldog and
next to him was Duck and Cover. She smiled and waved at Ace. It was
hard to get Duck and Cover down.

There were two smaller, heavily armed
personnel carriers waiting as well, both carrying armed members of
the E.E.D. It was a little embarrassing for Ace, but she knew it
was more for the sake of Emily than for her. If she’d been by
herself she would have just flown home and called it good. It also
made her angry. She wanted to hunt down Mayhem and the one who
hired him and beat the hell out of them.

Right idea, wrong time.

“Easy Ace, you’ll get your chance soon
enough,” Torment said. She placed a hand on Ace’s shoulder as a
calming gesture.

They loaded into the carrier and Ace buckled
herself in. With a police escort it was still a half-hour drive to
her house from Genesis West. She settled down to wait, doing what
she could to keep her temper in check. A few days rest and she
would be back in action.

Chapter 11

After two days of recuperation Moses declared Emily
and Ace both fit to return to action. Ace was pretty certain his
visit was just another excuse to scan her, just in case something
had changed.

That same morning Maniac had delivered Ace’s
completely repaired, and upgraded, truck. There was now a weapons
rack in the main console, wherein was stored an assault rifle, two
sidearms and two extra clips for each. Einstein had also installed
the newest version of his kinetic shield with a sincere wish that
it would never be tested. Ace shared that sentiment. Getting her
truck hit by explosions once was more than enough.

Ace had reasons for wanting to get out of the
house, other than the drive to find Mayhem. Having to stay at home
seemed to aggravate her PTSD. Her nightmares had been much worse
during her two days of forced rest.

Their drive that morning was quiet. They both
spent their time looking out the windows, worried about another
attack. Fortunately they arrived at the precinct without
incident.

Inside they were greeted with well wishes
from the normal police. “We’ve got our eyes open. Those bastards
are going to pay for what they did,” one of the older officers said
just as Ace and Emily were entering the elevator.

“Thank you,” Ace said feeling a little
surprised. Apparently Mayhem’s attack on her and Emily had eased
some of the tension between the officers of the E.E.D and the
normal police.

“You just let us know what we can do,” the
officer continued and nodded, allowing the elevator doors to
close.

“Well at least something good came from
this,” Emily said as the elevator ascended.

Amen.

“I just hope we can find a way to make it
last. There is only so much crossover we can do. Bringing normals
in against Antis on a regular basis is a good way to get a lot of
people hurt or killed,” Ace said.

Emily shrugged. “They want to help. Like me
they, well most of them, understand the risks. You saw the
video.”

Ace grunted in response. Apparently someone
had recorded the entire attack on her truck with their device and
posted it online. While it had been a tough thing to go through
inside the truck, actually watching it happen had been worse.
Bullets had hammered her truck and the surrounding pavement in an
almost relentless stream occasionally punctuated by the blasts from
Mayhem.

Fortunately the video had been conclusive
proof that the mercenary Anti was the one responsible. His energy
blasts always had distinct red-black tinge to them. Now they just
had to find him and whoever hired him.

Up in the E.E.D offices they were greeted by
more well-wishers. They congratulated Ace on her bravery and asked
after Emily’s health. It was a little embarrassing, at least for
Ace. She never handled praise and well-wishes very well

You don’t handle most social situations
well. And it’s partly your own fault.

Once they had worked their way through the
crowd of officers, Ace and Emily reported to Captain Angel’s
office. He had them both sit and after asking about their health he
said, “I have two jobs for you. The first is for you, Ms.
Carpenter. We have brought in some of the people that you, myself
and Torment spoke with. I want you to go over some other questions
and show them the picture of Mayhem. His face isn’t well known
outside of the E.E.D. I want to see if it triggers a reaction from
anyone.

“Ace I want you on air patrol. Check anywhere
the HSO, or Mayhem might be holing up. If you find them you are use
whatever means necessary to neutralize them and bring them in. You
are to protect civilian life and property whenever possible, but
any Exceptional not in this building is a suspect until they have
conclusively proven otherwise. The mayor and Bones are going to be
announcing Exceptional Lock Down and the implementation of Article
Two this morning.”

“Yes sir,” Ace said in response. This wasn’t
Ace’s first time being assigned to flight patrol. With Lock Down
and Article Two in effect the E.E.D was going to have an easier
time dealing with potential HSO threats, but it was going to make
the rest of the populace nervous.

“You want me in full armor?” she asked.

“No. I want you in plain clothes and your
badge, no weapons, no armor. We need to try and draw them out and
making you look vulnerable might do it. Ms. Carpenter, I know it’s
going to be uncomfortable for you but we are going to have to
isolate you in the interrogation rooms until Ace finishes her
patrol. The upper floors of this building are secure, but not
enough to stop someone like Mayhem. We still don’t know which one
of you was the actual target. What we do know is that it wasn’t the
HSO. Mayhem hates them just as much as he hates the E.E.D.”