Talyesin's Tales

After visiting their new secret headquarters, Squirrelman and his team enjoy a picnic lunch to celebrate their new headquarters, Squirrelman and Ragdoll's engagement, and to discuss their new recruits, deciding to meet them all that afternoon...





We enter the coffee shop and Ace heads over to do our ordering while Ragdoll, Physique and I grab a booth.

"I can't believe we got so many nos," I say, sliding in. Ragdoll sits next to me, Physique slides in opposite.

"We got a few yeses," Physique says.

"We talked to what, fifty people?" I say, shaking my head. "And got four definite yeses?"

"It's the registration that's killing us," Ragdoll says. "Most solo crimefighters stay solo because they don't want to have to register."

"Still, I mean, we're offering medical, dental, facilities!"

"Mochaccino," Ace says, carrying a tray.

"Here," Ragdoll takes it from him.

"'Just coffee, milk, no sugar'," he teases me. I take the mug and pull my mask up to my upper lip.

"Café au lait for the lady," he hands it to Physique, "Double espresso for me. And a dozen donuts for sugary grease-laden goodness."

Physique grabs three donuts in one hand and puts them in front of her. We each take one and I say, "Ace, what's our tally? Four definite yeses...?"

"Darklight, we already knew she'd say yes, so does she count?" he asks me, pulling out his data-card.

"She counts, otherwise we only have three yeses and that's too depressing to contemplate," I say, sipping my coffee.

"Okay, we got yeses from Blue Jay, Red Bolt and Superia," he says, checking the card. "Definite maybes from Phenom, Rapunzel, Midnight Avenger, Powerband, Moonbow and Dragon."

"Turns to stone by day," Ragdoll teases him.

"How was I supposed to know that's just urban legend?" Ace replies.

"Still, chameleonic scales are kind of useful," Physique says around a mouthful of donut.

"I was sure Blue Ghost would say yes," I say.

"He's kind of tied to St. Luke's," Ragdoll says, sipping her mochaccino.

"And the Ultras said they'd be willing to help us, any time we needed," Physique says.

"That's a team-up of teams, I was kind of hoping they'd join ours," I say.

"Don't get down, hon," Ragdoll answers, putting a hand on my arm.

"Hell yeah, son," Ace grins. "Once we get some team collars under our belt and sponsors and stuff, they'll be lining up to join the League."

"Sure."

"At least we got one speedster on the team," Physique says. "You'd think in Action City we'd get two or three."

Action City has the highest per capita number of speedsters in the world. People say it's because Action City is where the action is, but I'm pretty sure it's because of the Action City 500 every year. Personally I'm not sure I see the point. Five hundred laps around Lampert International Speedway over in five minutes, then watching the whole race in slo-mo instant replay. I mean, the week leading up to the race, when the speedsters arrive from all around the world, it's pretty much impossible to get a collar, so I usually plan my vacations for then. They've got things covered, pretty much in the blink of an eye.

Anyhow, I just nod and eat my donut.

"I was sure Clown and Harlequin would be on board," Ace says, scrolling down the list of nos.

"I didn't expect them to laugh, that's for sure," I answer.

"That was a bit much," Physique agrees. She's finished her three donuts already.

"Clown's an ass," Ragdoll says. "And Harlequin's a bitch. I'm glad they said no. Now I don't have to pretend to like them."

Ace and I shoot each other a look that says, She was pretending to like them? When?

"Anyway, our six maybes said they'd get back to us by the end of the week," Ace says.

"Speaking of getting back to us, any word from Reed?" Physique asks me.

"Nothing yet," I answer. "He's a busy guy. I'm sure tracking down one adventurer who may or may not be dead isn't high on his list of priorities."

"I don't know," Ragdoll says. "He seemed really... intense about the whole Downtown thing, you know?"

"It's all that Praxis tech," I explain. "Praxis stuff always makes him kind of... nuts a little. He and Konstantinopoulos have some sort of ... I'd call it a rivalry but it's more than that."

"Yeah," Physique says. "And it goes way back." She gives a sort of sad little half-grin and adds, "Even before my time."

"Now is your time, gorgeous," Ace grins at her, trying to shove her a little with his shoulder. She doesn't budge, but she smiles at least.

"I'm still not sure about Midnight Avenger," Ragdoll says. "I mean, he's only got powers from midnight to one?"

"I haven't got any powers at all," Ace says to her, his back up a little.

"That's not what I'm saying," Ragdoll answers, her hackles starting to rise too.

"Then what?"

"I mean, come on, the guy's in therapy."

"Which means he's working on his problem," I interrupt. "He's plenty useful, even without powers. And he's a third-generation legacy crimefighter. He's got a big name, even if his powers are limited and we've already got a gadget guy."

Ace shuts down his data-card and packs it away in his hip holster.

"Anyway," he says, "what's next?"

"I say we set up our HQ," Physique says.

"Yeah," I agree, nodding. "That's next. And Ace and I have an appointment next week in Washington."

"Next week? That's... That was fast."

"Yeah, well," I say. "Next Monday. We've got to be there at eight ayem, so pack for an overnight and we'll leave Sunday night."

"Yeah, okay."

"What about the others?" Physique asks. "Our other yeses?"

"While I'm there I'm registering our team," I explain. "Then we'll be able to recruit, and teams get priority status for new recruits. They'll be able to register once they've signed the charter."

"We have a charter?" Ace asks.

"Standard boilerplate charter," I explain. "'We the undersigned hereby agree to utilize our abilities, skills, and powers to the furthering of justice and upholding the laws of enter city and state here.' I tweaked it a little, the four of us can sign it before you and I leave for Washington."

"Okay," Physique says. "Who's up for supper?"

"I'm in," Ace says.

"I want to patrol a bit," Ragdoll says.

"Yeah, me too," I say. "We can meet up tomorrow, say, noon?"

Everyone nods and we head out. I collect the bill from Ace for later deductions and we split up and head our separate ways. Ragdoll and I run along rooftops, sort of just enjoying each other's company. We get to the corner of Perez and Reeves and Ragdoll grabs me by the wrist. She plants a long hard kiss on me and says, "See you later."

"You don't want to patrol?"

"I do," she grins. "On my own, okay? I'll see you back at your place."

"Okay," I say, a little confused. But I watch her jump off the building and head off. Then I head in the other direction, running, jumping, climbing the sides of buildings. Thinking.

I catch something out of the corner of my eye, a little glint of something in a darkened alley. I turn and see him, a mugger. They never give up, do they.

I climb down the side of the building, stealthy as I can. The victim sees me, her eyes go wide, but the perp's got his back to me and he's still in the 'getting off on the power trip of holding a knife to a lady's throat' phase of the mugging.

"Hey, buddy, didn't your mother ever tell you, you could get hurt playing with knives?" I say. He turns and faces me and pulls the vic around in front of him. She's tall enough to hide most of him. Now he's added hostage taking to the list of stupid things he's done today.

"Don't be stupid," I say, hopping off the wall, holding up my hands to calm him. "Well, don't be more stupid."

"Shut up, mask!"

"Wow. Very original. You stay up nights thinking up zingy one-liners like that?"

"I'll cut her, I swear I will!"

Hands still where he can see them, I hot squeeze out my claws.

"You cut her, I cut you," I explain to this idiot.

"I swear I'll cut her! Back off!" He presses the knife against her throat, enough to make her scream but not enough to break the skin.

I jump, flipping over them mid-air, landing behind them. Reach around, grab his wrist and snap it away from her throat, pull his other arm off of her and slam him hard into the alley wall. She falls to her knees and puts a hand to her throat, coughing.

I force the perp to the ground. His wrist is bent at a very wrong angle. I start to pull out my ID to call in the cops, when I hear it.

The victim is giggling.

A high-pitched, girlish giggle.

When she speaks, it's a high-pitched, girlish voice.

"Thank you... Beloved," she says.

Fuck.