Unity by Carl Stubblefield (epub read online books TXT) 📕

Gus exhaled and he felt his tension drop a couple of notches. He felt awkward opening up to someone who was almost a stranger, but BoJack’s encouraging smile soothed his usual need for privacy. Oh, why not?

“Well, lately I’ve been feeling kind of overwhelmed,” Gus began, surprised as the words spilled out. “I don’t really know what’s normal when supers interact. I mean, I got along fine when it was just me and Aurora, but I kinda feel like an outsider when everyone is in a big group. I don’t know where I fit in, and don’t really know how to break the ice, so I’ve been staying to myself.”

“That’s not really a question, but I can see you’re having a mare about this.” Seeing Gus’ confusion he amended, “I see you’re having a tough time with fitting in, which is understandable. Let me tell you our side of the situation and then I get to ask my question of you.

“All of the Crew went to the Academy years ago, and we’ve all been on countless teams and missions. Some of them I know better than others, but we have a feel for everyone’s abilities and personalities. It’s considered kind of impolite to be too nosy about someone’s powers, but working with people in training and on missions, you get a feel for how they work and how you can support each other.

“Not having any idea of how you fight or what abilities you possess has made you a bit of a mystery. Up until that last fight, we didn’t really know what to expect when things got serious. Some trainees fold early on and never make it out of the Academy, so we never have to deal with that in the day to day. I think we all breathed a collective sigh of relief with how you managed yourself.

“Some supers are too reckless and others are too timid. You need the right blend of balls and brains to support the team. I’ll bet you made your dad proud with how you held yourself and weren’t afraid to jump in and help. That says heaps in my book.”

“Well, thanks, that’s actually encouraging to hear. I think I’m still a bit starstruck being around you guys. You seem to have it all down.”

“Don’t put any supers up on pedestals, cuz. We’re all just people. Don’t ever let yourself forget that.” BoJack’s naturally ebullient, friendly voice turned serious and severe. “I’m serious about that. It’s kind of in the super handbook to project this aura of control and authority, and for the most part everyone believes it. But just so you know, a lot of us are faking it until we make it.”

Gus nodded in surprise as BoJack continued, “So what has been the biggest change since you got your powers, Gus?”

Gus blew out a breath. He knew the answer but was hesitant to say it, but figured, what the hell.

“I think I’m still trying to find out what I want to do with my powers and how life is going to be different. I won’t lie, I was on cruise control for a long time as a reg and now I’m having all these ethical dilemmas and trying to figure out what to focus on and improve. Lately I’ve been kind of stagnating compared to how I was progressing earlier and it’s a bit frustrating.”

“What have you been doing? I’ll try to help you out—don’t worry, I’m counting that as my second question, so you get to ask two.”

“Fair enough. First, I was fighting zombie Dark Nth left on the island and I was gaining skills left and right. Then I was…” Gus almost talked about leeching powers, but quickly revised it to, “…fighting supers to keep the manor. But now that has slowed down and there’s not as much XP to be had.”

“That’s to be expected. My abilities improved a lot in those early years. Now I have to innovate and apply my current abilities in inventive ways if I want to gain any XP at all. So if I get this right, you’ve just been fighting and training skills? What about crafting?”

“I’ve done a little bit making shelters on the island and even making clothes. That’s about it. Unless you count Ether Weaving.”

Gus kept flying forward and when the silence dragged on, he looked back to see BoJack standing agape, having stopped crawling across the trees.

“What?” Gus asked, flying back.

“You’re serious? You have an ability named Ether Weaving?”

“Yeah. What’s the big deal? I thought most abilities use it to some degree or another for their powers.”

BoJack looked down at the swaying tree tops below, as if studying something there.

“Tell me already,” Gus said, worry starting to edge into his voice.

“Are you really telling me you have no idea?”

“Does that count as question three?”

Chapter Fifteen

Dream Weaver

BoJack shielded his eyes as he looked at the sun.

“Let’s head down and set up a camp. This may take a while and I don’t want to be distracted.”

They descended through a narrow gap caused by a fallen tree, breaking the dense canopy of trees. BoJack reminded Gus of a lineman working on an electrical pole with how his cables slid down the trunk to the tree.

The scent of pine grew thicker as they settled to the forest floor, dense with fallen needles. It was also much darker with the branches overhead blocking out the waning light, making it seem later than it was.

“Okay, long story short, Gus, is that I think we both could really benefit from working together. Are you familiar with mentors as it relates to supers?” BoJack’s eyes were wide with excitement and his eyes darted around as if trying to plan and assess multiple things at once.

“Nope, sorry.”

“That’s what I figured. No matter. I’m going to assume you don’t know anything about history as it relates to supers, but let me know if I go over some things that are redundant. There’s a lot to cover and