Heroes Rising Fiction: Dark Renaissance Part 17

 “Do we still have eyes on him?” Nova asked.

10915 answered, “Back-up systems coming online. Feed reactivating.”

The monitor filled with a low-quality footage taken from a camera in one of the surrounding buildings in Downtown Detroit. Structural damage to the power systems in the area had rendered most of their connections inactive.

The footage on the screen was of an enormous bubble of energy that had one occupant. The ranging figure of a man punched the bubble hard, many cracks forming across it.

“Estimated time before that thing breaks?”

A robot answered, “No data. Energy signature is in quantum flux.”

Strange Quark appeared next to Nova. “I’d say he’s gonna crack that bubble in ten minutes, or less.”

“Then we don’t have time. EB can make those eggs, but if heroes have to get up here and obtain them, and then back down there, it will be too late for Detroit.”

Quark casually sipped a martini as he said, “Oh, that’s why I’m here. EB and I just delivered the eggs.”

“Where?”

“We both figured it would be impossible to have heroes come to the eggs, so we brought the eggs to the heroes.”

Nova barked, “WHERE?”

“On the streets, out in public. Heroes, at least those not currently under the Ren Wear trance, are still out doing their jobs. They will come across the egg. Brilliant, right?”

Nova let out a controlling huff. “And just how do these heroes know what to do with those eggs and why?”

“We… uh… didn’t think of that.”

Nova grumbled as he activated his wrist comm, “Nova to all heroes who can still hear me. This is a code L alert in Detroit, Michigan. We have a potential Legion strength villain tearing the city apart, and he won’t stop there. EB has spread special infused eggs all over the world. If you find one, use it to enhance your powers and then go take him down. This is a priority alert. Get to Detroit and stop him. Subject One is now the enemy’s known designation.”

“Subject One?”

Nova clicked off the comm. “We have to have an identity. Besides, if you’re right, this could be just the first in a serious infestation of Legion powered people.”

Quark calmly said, “Too bad we can’t all team up on this bloke. I mean, seriously, beating him down one by one will be hard.”

“My original plan was to have this be a group effort, but we don’t have time to rally the troops. He’s going to break that any moment.”

There was a bright green flash on the screen and the bubble exploded into billions of tiny flecks, evaporating on the wind.

“Hate to burst you bubble, Nova, but… he burst the bubble.”

Nova was about to comment on the poorly placed joke when they witnessed Starlight Jumper fly in and nail the enemy right in the face. Subject One flew back and crashed through a city bus.

“Does Starlight Jumper always glow like that?” Nova asked.

Quark smiled, “Nope. That’s the infused egg.”

“Let’s hope she’s not alone.”