The water lapped against the side of the battleship in time to slow movement of my boots against the wooden deck. No tourists were supposed to be about; the ship was officially closed for renovations. But what were they going to do but open it up for us? We’d brought a crowd of people who … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 23)
My cape fluttered in the wind rolling off of the distant ocean; the salty shores lapping against the steel monolithic battleship, gleaming in the way that only old steel could. Full armor. No need to treat this as anything less than a real battle. Eradicator gear. Goggles. Protective plating. Everything from the kit. Never had … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 22)
The dojo was quiet. Not even the air conditioning whirred overhead through aging pipes. The walls were covered in everything I could wrench from the floor to keep it absolutely still. It was all held in place precariously, tape, chairs, practice instruments, stretched out in an esoteric fashion that reminded me of my distant home, … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 21)
Unlike my first instinct, I didn’t spend the rest of the day training. There was work to be done before I did anything so selfish. The de facto headquarters for the super heroes had been moved away from the center of Mobile and instead took up shop across the street from a waffle house pointed … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 20)
Friday. We’d settle it on Friday. I had no idea why I was even considering putting up with it. What sort of leader let people challenge them like this? Admittedly, I knew the answer to that too. If I were in Colton’s position and thought the ship wasn’t sailing the right way, well… I’d do … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 19)
We swung by the motel Colton was staying at. For free; it was something that would be paid for by the Association, though it was dawning on me that by the time the crisis was over, there might literally not be an Association to cover all of the costs. It took him a few minutes … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 18)
It was three am, and I hadn’t managed to sleep. I’d wanted to. Wanted more than anything to get more than a brief moment of peace, but everytime I shut my eyes for more than a minute I was back in the base. Back to proving how wrong I was to go there. How little … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 17)
I stood at the edge of the farmer’s market and stared off into the distance, where the mighty mobile river churched into the bay. Produce was on display, and a flock of D rankers, led by Hands herself, who had earned the stripes I’d placed on her shoulder, were separating it into kits so we … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 16)
There was an awful gurgle. Not a human gurgle. But it came from Gunze nonetheless. “Go to him,” Patrickson said, coolly. “I’m not cruel. Here what he has to say, now that the unkillable is finally being slain.” His soldiers milled uncertainly, their rifles wavering from the first time, and Patrickson turned to him, glee … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 15)
Colton was down. Hands quivered in place, I could feel her hand whirring about nervously to try and block as many avenues of attack as possible. Gunze slid into a more comfortable position, something he could move out of if the time was right. “So glad you could join us,” The man said, stepping out … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 14)