Hero Super

Me: Are you okay?

Me: Quinn?

Calvin was walking back to his room, tired and hungry, trying to message his two friends who bailed on him. Not that he faulted either of them, but getting left behind stung a bit.

“I save their asses and all they do is leave me— Ina?”

Ina was standing outside of Quinn’s room, looking down on her own holowatch. The curl on her brows and the frown on her face made apparent the look of concern she had after turning towards him.

Calvin’s eyes darted quickly between her and the door, immediately dismissing his previous thoughts with a lengthy sigh.

“Is she okay?” Calvin asked, looking wryly at the door.

“Queenie’s…” Ina muttered, shaking her head lightly.

“What happened in the cafeteria?”

Her frown deepened, “It’s… let’s not talk here.”

He turned and glanced back at the hallway, watching other students pass by. He looked back towards her and the door, “What about Quinn?”

Her eyes lingered as she followed his gaze to the door, letting out another sigh before answering, “Let’s maybe give her some space. She’s probably… you know.”

He nodded, feeling his stomach rumble, “Lunch?”

“I had one bite,” She grumbled, aggrieved.

He chuckled, walking towards his door, “Spaghetti?”

“Meaty.”

“No other way to make it.”

“You’re the best.”

The two stepped into Calvin’s room. Ina immediately dove over to the couch and lay down like a wet tissue, grabbing one of the cushions to hug and bury her head in. The dorm room’s owner smiled wryly before heading to the kitchen to make some lunch.

“I should make enough for six, just in case…”, he muttered, fastening the apron’s tie behind him. “Hmm… let me try something, actually.”

While cooking a meal for an entire family, Calvin tried out using [Gourmand’s Insight] with only his hearing. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get it to work. His sense of smell overpowered any attempt to just use his ears, analyzing it olfactorily before anything else.

“I need nose plugs and a blindfold,” he muttered, making a note of future purchases.

“What?” Ina unburied her head and looked towards him.

“Nothing,” Calvin said, continuing to cook. He finished the pasta, grabbed two bowls, and set it on the coffee table in front of the demon girl. “So?”

“Listen to this—”

Ina started recounting the events from her perspective. From arriving in the cafeteria, meeting another pink girl, watching the others arrive, and finally listening to Quinn and Alden argue before all hell was let loose. She didn’t remember much after that, a byproduct of her berserking.

“You just suddenly berserked?” Calvin asked, wide-eyed and dubious. “Like full berserk?”

“Technically, everyone did. Emotions were already rising since Queenie and that asshole were fighting… but it felt weird,” Ina looked up, picturing the moment, “it was like a buzzing. Like my contracts were flaring up.”

“Flaring up? What? Like a rash or something— ow,” Calvin threw his head back dramatically at Ina’s light forehead flick.

“I can’t explain it. It just felt like that. Like something inside me was heating up, making my contracts berserk on their own.”

He scratched his chin, a theory forming in his head, “Remember that guy I beat on the first day? The one that surrendered immediately after his power didn’t work on me?”

“Yeah? I remember him, he was there. I think his name was Ivan or something?”

“That guy, yeah. He’s the one that told me about the buzzing that was making people insane. It wasn’t affecting him for some reason.”

“If it’s because of a mental superpower or tinker tech, then it makes sense. Just like Physics are more durable, mental powers have better mental defenses.”

“I know, nerd— ow.”

“And it wasn’t making people insane, I think,” She sighed, biting on a meatball. “Whatever that test was, it’s not about that.”

Calvin paused for a moment before letting his thoughts out, “You think it’s really a test?”

“I…”, she glanced at him and shook her head, “No. It probably isn’t. But I really want it to be just a test.”

He stared at her for a second, forehead scrunching up, “Why?”

“Because if it isn’t a test, that it’s an attack. And if it’s an attack, then things outside are really complicated,” she gestured in the air with a fork before stabbing a meatball in annoyance, “and if things outside are complicated, then my normal Academy life is going to be just as complicated.”

Calvin scoffed, “Normal academy life? Nothing’s been normal since our first day here.”

“Okay, well, normal in a sense where we’re not at war with another city.”

“War…”

Calvin had a vague recollection of various news segments he heard idly whenever he cooked breakfast early in the morning. The morning dog reporter occasionally barked about rising tensions between Bastion and Steel City, the threat of trade sanctions and failing diplomacy with other neighboring city-states, and the surge of civilian protests advocating peace.

The news dog also sometimes barked about good stuff too, like the weather.

“Does it have to be that? Won’t it be like when we got kidnapped? Villains and shit?” He asked, un-derailing his train of thought.

“You mean terrorists?”

“Terrorists, whatever. Bad people.”

“There’s a difference, Cal. Supervillains don’t—”

“—don’t specifically target civilians. I know, just can’t get the concept around my head.” He shrugged. “There’s always been normal people getting caught up whenever a villain shows up.”

“That’s just you being unlucky. It’s normally safe to watch from the side,” Ina gestured to him with a piece of chicken. “Or are you lucky in that sense?”

“Also, aren’t we technically still civilians?”

“Not really. We’re special cases. Specifically students from our department.”

“What? When did that happen?”

She sighed and dropped her fork, “It’s been a week. Read the handbook, Cal.”

“I did—n’t have time, okay?”

“Whatever. Anyway, it’s especially because of the time we got kidnapped that it’s not likely to be villains. At least local ones. Empress has been cracking down on them for months, and it’s not like anyone will try to challenge her.”

“How strong is she really?”

“Every single villain in Villainopolis is scared of her, that’s all you need to know.”

“But I don’t know every single villain in that place— hey! My meatball!”

“Neither do I,” She stared at him while casually chewing on the pilfered food. “Anyway, that’s why the chances of it having something to do with them are slim.”

“And what’s the chance of it being a real test ruined because, according to you, Quinn literally vibrated an entire building?”

Ina rested her head on her hand, staring at the food, “Lower.”

Calvin’s brows furrowed, “Are you sure she’s the one that shook the entire building?”

“She probably shook the ground under the building, but, yep,” Ina nodded. “She’s the only one who can.”

“An entire building?”

“You’re going to get the same answer no matter how many times you ask, Cal.”

“Did you know she was that strong?”

She looked at him incredulously, “Didn’t you? You always joked about her melting people so I thought you knew?”

“This and that are wildly different things, Ina.”

“You said you saw her melt that green guy, and he was tougher than a building.”

“Driver,” Calvin frowned, “I mean, in hindsight, it makes sense… I guess. It’s just, why doesn’t she ever use it?”

“Because she doesn’t normally want to topple buildings?” Ina leaned back, smirking. “Queenie has her reasons. Maybe she’ll tell you one day.”

“Maybe,” he nodded.

Calvin finished his bowl, eyeing the leftover spaghetti. Guiltier heads prevailed and stopped him from eating everything, still holding onto a chance that the pink girl would come by.

“So are we mad at Alden now?” He asked, picking at his teeth.

Ina frowned, “We are.”

“Roger that,” he shrugged.

“You don’t like it?”

“I just… he has a point, you know? I kinda get why Quinn was mad back then, but it’s been months and she’s still carrying that grudge? It wasn’t like Alden did anything wrong, we’re all just kids. I stayed because you’re my friends and I literally had no idea what was happening.”

“Let’s talk about this when she’s here. I…”, Ina sighed, standing up from the couch. “I berserked thrice today, I need to sleep it off.”

“Just twice. I sprayed you with water before the rock demon contract berserked,” Calvin corrected, feeling proud of his foresight at the time.

“That’s why I was soaked?” She glared at him. “Whatever, that’s still one more than I should in a day. My head is killing me.”

“Go and rest,” Calvin waved her away as he grabbed the empty bowls. “You gonna check on Quinn?”

She thought for a moment before shaking her head, “No. Maybe tomorrow, if she still doesn’t come out by then. Just send her a message for now.”

“I already did earlier,” He nodded. “I’ll send her another one later.”

Ina smiled, “Thanks, Cal.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Ina stepped out, leaving Calvin to his lonesome and a quarter of the day without anything to do. He tidied up, turned on the dishwasher, and went to slouch on the couch thinking of what to do for the rest of the day.

He opened a window, scratching his chin.

Super Help

Gourmand's Insight - Path of Senses

815/500 dishes analyzed with taste

15/300 dishes analyzed with sight

313/300 dishes analyzed with smell

0/200 dishes analyzed with touch

0/100 dishes analyzed with sound

Super Help

Gourmand's Insight - Path of Senses

815/500 dishes analyzed with taste

15/300 dishes analyzed with sight

313/300 dishes analyzed with smell

0/200 dishes analyzed with touch

0/100 dishes analyzed with sound

“Hmm… I have time and ingredients…”

The Next Morning

Calvin tutted in annoyance as he sat behind a transparent barrier, glancing impatiently towards his holowatch every second.

“You are aware that you are allowed to have two? The nature of your relationship is very much unlike a romantic one,” A member of the staff, whose name Calvin couldn’t even remember, spoke to him with a face half-filled with disinterest and annoyance.

“I’m not a fuc—I’m not stupid, I know that. I just don’t feel comfortable doing it,” Calvin replied, resisting the urge to swear. “And you already said I’m not required to anyway.”

“Have I?” The staff member looked up in thought before letting out a mutter. “I have… well, nevertheless, choosing to partake in the program is strongly advised.”

“And I’m strongly choosing 'no’.”

“Are you sure?”

'I am about to turn into a villain, I swear to god…’

The staff member glanced at the clock, “Well, in any case, you can go now. I’ve noted your attendance. If there’s anything you need, please make sure you really need it before telling a teacher or a member of the staff.”

Calvin was already halfway to the door, having stood up from the uncomfortably stiff chair as soon as the word 'go’ entered his ears. Briskly walking with the pace of a man needing a number two, he grumbled on his way out trying to quell his annoyance.

“Haah…”, A sigh escaped his lips as soon as he stepped out of the room. “It’s like talking to a goldfish, goddamn.”

He had just finished painfully talking his way out of a psychological evaluation, something the Academy had mandatorily 'volunteered’ them to attend after yesterday’s debacle.

Thankfully, he was armed and ready with excuses, including but not limited to: not actually being there for eighty percent of the event, already having a personal shrink, and having a dead relative he needed to mourn— although that last one was a hail mary more than anything.

“Psychological evaluation… it’s like they’re not even hiding it anymore,” Calvin muttered to himself as he made his way out of the building. “Conspiracy theories aside, what do I do for the rest day?”

Calvin opened his holowatch, re-reading his conversation with Quinn and Ina.

Ina: dont w8

Ina: thyr keepn us 4 whol dy

Me: The entire day?!

Me: Why?

Ina: docs?? ordrs

Quinn: *psychiartrist

Quinn: *psyhciatrist!

Quinn: mental man!!!!

Ina: u kno wht i mean

Me: Okay? Have fun?

Quinn: always!!

Quinn sent an Image

Quinn: be jealous :P

He smiled, looking at the photo of the two sprawled on top of a hospital bed, controllers in hand as they played a video game on the gigantic television Quinn had probably taken out of her pocket.

Quinn had come out of the room early in the morning, acting like nothing had happened, and bothered Calvin to cook her breakfast as soon as he got back from his jog. She wasn’t too keen on talking about what happened yesterday, and Calvin didn’t want to force anything so he just let it go.

“Glad they’re fine.” Calvin smiled. He swiped the screen and looked at the time. “I’m still exempt from going to class… what to do— oh yeah.”

He pulled up the messages tab again.

Me: Can I swing by? I need to ask you something.

p4rad0x: Good morning, dear friend. It is good to see you are in good health after yesterday’s attack in the Academy. Unfortunately, I am currently still deep in the state of Tinker Fever and am likely unable to entertain your presence.

'They already know what happened yesterday?’ The thought reminded him of how terrifying the little girl and her AI were, sending a shiver down his spine as he suddenly felt a bit paranoid. He took a quick glance towards the visible security cameras, gulping as he turned his attention back to the message. “Wait, so it really is an attack?”

p4rad0x: Just in case you ask: No, I do not know who the perpetrator is. I’ve only read the reports and watched available footage, none were conducive to positing the identity of the culprit. It was thorough, professional, and nothing like a two-bit villain like those in Batty’s previous clique.

p4rad0x: Back to the matter. Perhaps Sebastien will be able to answer your inquiries, he is well-educated, well-read, and well-informed. Feel free to ask through this message thread. You do not need to worry about prying super hackers or data-tinkers, this conversation is very secure.

“Is he talking about himself in third person?” Calvin chuckled.

Me: Do you know what an essence is?

Me: And essence-source?

p4rad0x: I see.

p4rad0x: Perhaps an explanation does necessitate a visit, dear friend. Come by when you can, at the usual time. May I ask what this is about?

He scratched his chin, 'Should I— well, they already know about the power absorption, this isn’t really something too wild.’

Me: I can probably evolve my power if I had that.

Calvin waited for a reply, as there usually was one not even a second later. However, a minute passed and there was still nothing, “…weird.”

He put down the holowatch, instantly feeling a vibration as soon as he did.

“What timing— huh?”

Me: message deleted

p4rad0x: message deleted

p4rad0x: message deleted

Me: message deleted

Me: message deleted

p4rad0x: message deleted

Me: message deleted

Every single message in their conversation was gone, and there was a new message thread right above it.

p4rad0x: Apologies, dear friend. I had wiped our previous conversation for both of our safeties. Rest assured, our security was in no way compromised. However, leaving a record of your previous statement in any form would have been unwise.

p4rad0x: Your dear AI friend, Sebastien, implores you to come into the lab at your earliest convenience. I have heard your previous message and am currently going feral while trying to escape my abode to attempt a kidnapping with you in mind.

p4rad0x: Sebastien is stopping me with all he has, but will not be able to hold out for more than a few hours.

p4rad0x: please hurry

It was an hour later before Calvin managed to safely slip away from any pair of prying eyes and security cameras and finally enter Dox’s lair relatively unseen. Sebastien had assured him that his presence on the network would be masked, he just needed to get to the lab without being followed.

He still had to evade the analog cameras on his way, though. And thankfully it was easier the second time around, way easier than ignoring the smooching couples in the relatively-hidden alcove of the Academy.

“Seb? Dox? Are you in here?” Calvin shouted as the grabber dropped him off into a random room as per usual. “I really should ask Dox for a map of this place— woah!”

The floor underneath him suddenly split open like a trap door. In a panic, he summoned an [Impervious Pebble] as a foothold, using it to jump back to non-trapped floors.

“Holy… that was close—”

A grabber emerged from the trap door and took hold of his ankles, yanking him into the failed 'trap’.

“Ah— oh?” The fall was unexpectedly short, at most a floor deep, but Calvin knew he had teleported into a different part of the lab. He stood up and dusted himself off, looking around the familiar room, “Seb?”

“Apologies, Calvin,” Sebastien’s robotic voice came from the walls. “I suggest you brace yourself.”

“Not again—”, he groaned, clenching his muscles in preparation.

“Calcal!” A shout came from below, another trap door opened up and shot out a child like she was a cannonball. “I missed you!”

[Jumper] was showing its worth once again as he used it to negate the possible concussion as he flew backwards. “I was here like two days ago, Dox.”

“Show me the evolution!” She stood and pulled him up with the strength unbefitting her stature. “Evolution!”

“Hold on, just, let me explain first, okay?”

“Yes, yes! Sebastien! Storytime!”

“Understood, creator.”

With a snap of her fingers, the grabbers inside the walls got to work and instantly replaced the floor with one of carpet and pillows. Calvin was pushed onto a red chair that made him feel like a detective with a blue dog, while Dox herself grabbed pillows and sat adorably on the floor, looking up at him with a sparkle in her eyes.

And so Calvin started explaining.

“And? What next? What next?!” Dox was now leaning against his leg, looking up excitedly as he finished.

“And… nothing? I went to the cafeteria after.”

“Cliffhanger!” She grabbed the pillow and threw it towards his face. “But! Amazing! If any of what you said was true… this’ll be super amazing!”

“So? Can you help?”

“Of course! I can do more than that! This will be the greatest Metahumanbiorological breakthrough of the centur— no, millen— no,” she scratched her chin in thought, “actually, maybe just the decade because I’ll make more and better breakthroughs in the future. Yes! Of the decade! Our names will be etched and written on every single piece of scientific literature and maybe some of the non-scientific pieces of literature in history!”

“Our names? Really?”

“Pen name,” Sebastien cut in. “You’ll be hunted down if you use your real name.”

“Is it that amazing?” Calvin knew it probably was, but for the little genius to be this excited— although he didn’t really have a scale to compare since she’s always excited— it wasn’t what he expected.

“Of course! But first—”, she snapped her fingers.

A whirring sound rang out. Calvin suddenly felt a strap wrap around his wrists, ankles, and waist. The little girl jumped up and stood on his thighs, grabbing his shoulders and stopping him from struggling.

“Dox?!”

“First, we need data,” The little girl smiled towards him like the proper evil scientist that she is. “Sebastien! Generate the first draft of CalDox theorem of supernatural ability evolution.”

“Understood,” Sebastien, still in the walls, spoke. “Apologies, dear friend.”

“Seb?! Hey! I’m—”

“Here is the deal, Calcal! I’ll help you evolve your powers from here on out, from now until forever, even! And you’ll help me with my research as a valued test— no— observation subject. That’s amazing, right?!”

“I—”, he paused, processing her words. Dox was rich. Very rich. And she’s going to have access to materials he might need in the future. 'It’s only research… right?’

“Calcal?” She smiled from ear to ear like a hungry ghoul. Calvin could swear lighting was striking an old tree in the backdrop somehow. “Deal?”

“If I don’t take the deal?”

“I can only hold her off for so long, dear friend.” Sebastien’s voice echoed from the walls.

'Is this what it’s like to make a contract like Ina does?’ He thought, gulping. “Fine, but no more strapping me into chairs.”

“But that’s the fun part!” She giggled, snapping her fingers. The ground beneath them changed again, the carpet and pillows sinking into the depths of the lab. “And we need it, just in case!”

“Just in case of what?” He asked, looking around at the objects rising from the ground. “What’s all this?”

On one side of the room was the familiar grotesque 'scanner’ she made to determine what superpower a person has. It’s a rudimentary design that really doesn’t look like it should work, but it apparently does.

On the other side were tables and shelves packed with bottles and flasks. Each container was filled with unknowable liquids of a variety of colours, none of them looking like non-evil liquids.

“One-hundred and eighty-eight,” she stepped off of him.

“Excuse me.”

“That’s how many toxicants you still needed for the evolution, right?”

“…please don't.”