“So Joon is their pilot,” Leo snarled, his face contorting with rage. “And if he passes this test?”
My stomach turned to stone. “Hundreds of Heroes will be unleashed, just like him.”
THIRTY-TWO
LEO
“We could just killhim again, you know,” Reed drawled.
“Nope, not doingthat,” I clucked my tongue. “Since when did you get so dark?”
Alex had brought the three of us into her world. She’d created an identical replica of the academy’s training arena. It’s where Joon and I first met—he had been my third match of the day, and he almost won. It brought back memories — bittersweet, nostalgic. She even dressed us all in the academy uniform. A black suit that looked like a janitor's uniform, with subpar equipment to match.
We watched the arena from the viewing room, waiting for Alex to call on us. She and Joon walked as if it were any other day, a morning stroll inside of a battlefield.
“Dunno, electrocuting someone for eight hours until you pass out can do that to a person.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I think I’m triggered. I’m gonna need a serious vacation after this.”
“Heroes don’t get vacations, buddy.” I shifted on my feet, anxiety building.
It was even worse than we’d thought, than we could have imagined. Every single one of us had dropped the ball—the VIA, and Heroes across the globe. We missed it because our job was to look after society, the everyday civilian. There wasn’t anyone in charge of saving the Hero.
In the blink of an eye, Reed and I were in the arena, standing across from Joon and Alex. She looked between the three of us, worry in her eyes. There wouldn’t be a barrier on the outside to stop Joon if he slipped out this time—we’d put all of our eggs into one basket, into this plan that was so idiotic, it just might work.
Joon disappeared and landed next to Reed, an arm draped around his shoulder. His smile stretched the tight skin around his cheeks, the scar tissue making it look almost painful. He used to charm everyone with that grin, and I’d ruined it. My heart thudded, a drumbeat of expectation.
“Hey there, sparky,” Joon cackled, and Reed ducked his head with a scowl. “Welcome to our humble… prison?” He whipped his head back to Alex. “I mean, this is basically meant to be a prison, right?”
Reed turned red. “Scratch the vacation. I need to be sedated. Two months minimum.”
Joon bent his head, cooing, distracted by his new toy. “Awe, you’re cute when you’re grumpy.”
I winced as Reed shot back, “I’mpretty,motherfucker. Notcute.”
Alex rolled her eyes, and my shoulders shot to my ears. I wasn’t sure what Joon was like on her first attempt—but judging by the way a smile tugged at her lips; it had to be better. Still, there was something looming over us — the knowledge that this was our only chance to save him.
I tried to imagine hundreds of Variants in the streets, glitched like he was, and it was a fucking nightmare. Everything would collapse. The VIA, Heroes, society as we knew it.
Joon was distracted, peering at Reed, into his mismatched eyes. “Cocky, but not wrong. My bad, you’re very pretty, for a lightning rod. I thought it over, by the way. Turn the voltage down a bit, and I think I could enjoy it. I’m not usually into submission, but I could make an exception?—”
“—WildGuard is a shielding Hero,” Alex interrupted, drawing Joon’s attention, and extending Reed some mercy. “He doesn’t specialize in lightning.”
I’d forgotten that part about him—Joon was a reckless flirt. Alex had her wine, I had my cigarettes, and he had… well, a soft spot for anyonepretty.I thought it was ridiculous when she’d suggested it. But watching him now, the easy drop of his shoulders and lazy way he held his head, I knew she was right. We’d play on his vice to get an entry point, then go from there.
From the inside, we’d try to draw out the real Joon. And outside, Dahlia was working frantically with her coders, trying to undo whatever Splinter had changed in his chip. If we could buy some time, we’d succeed.
No purple eyes, no madness, or locking him up and risking an escape. With his mind under Alex’s ability, and an extra dose of sedative, they could remove it entirely, and put in a new one. Though, Dahlia wasn’t sure itcouldbe removed at this point.
We just have to wait it out, and hope.
Reed had begrudgingly agreed to her plan after Alex promised him another shopping spree. Unfortunately, it wasmycredit card they’d be using, and I was going to be forced along for the ride. But there were priorities at stake, so I would deal.
“A mixed bag, huh,” Joon nodded in appreciation. “Prettyandtalented. The codename could use some work, though.”
“Really? I considered ‘Glitch’,too, but it was a little evil for my taste,” Reed purred. “I’m more into the wholesome type.”
Damnit, Reed. We’re trying to get him to chill out, not piss him off even more.
I went rigid, and Alex’s face turned red as she watched them. To my surprise, Joon went along with it.
