Luka was in his newly bought luxury apartment, a seven story building packed with modern and tech related appliances.
It was comfortable enough. It wasn't like living on a boat was any better.
"I should get a suite when I get back," I smirked "I'm sure Chloe won't mind making room."
I let myself sink into the couch and flicked on the tv. The first thing that came into view was exactly the people I needed to find, the Heroes, or rather there sidekicks.
It was only the robot chick and eagle girl there. The main heroines must be busy.
"Another attack this week has occurred at the downtown area. Anyone nearby please move with caution while the heroes handle things."
Hmm handle? They seem to be struggling, a lot. But what do you expect from sidekicks.
Regardless I needed to head out there to the other heroes even if it wasn't my main purpose for being here the opportunity was simply too great.
Sass, ever calm, emerged from my jacket with his usual dignified grace. "Greetings, Luka," he said with formal politeness, his ancient eyes regarding me with quiet assessment. "I trust you are well. However, I find myself in need of sustenance."
I thought for a moment about how I really never talked with my kwami and gave a soft smile to him. The snake kwami had always carried himself with such authority. Even Plagg deferred to him sometimes.
"Of course," I responded. "What food do you enjoy the most?"
"Eggs would be most suitable," Sass replied with measured dignity. "They provide the proper nourishment for one of my... responsibilities." There was something in his tone that suggested he took his role very seriously.
I raised an eyebrow. "Responsibilities?"
"The power of Second Chance is not given lightly, Luka," Sass said, floating closer with that penetrating stare of his. "Time itself bends to our will. This requires wisdom. Discipline. I have observed that you possess these qualities, which is why our partnership has been quite adequate."
High praise from Sass, apparently.
The snake miraculous's powers were more than enough reason to splurge on Sass, and I could potentially convince him to use his own power to save to a point longer than 5 minutes. I quickly prepared some scrambled eggs, watching as he ate with quiet satisfaction, his movements precise and deliberate even while feeding.
10 minutes later I was fully transformed, rocketing myself out my window as I followed Google Maps to the downtown area.
Finally I'm here. Looking out there was the mess of several rooftop battles and in the distance four figures clashing.
I boosted myself off to the next building, trailing behind the ruin and a few moments later was directly next to the battle.
I thought for a moment watching a group of two—one the beige and gold android girl who I'd forgotten the name of and some second rate villain. Then my eyes trailed to the other duo. This one seemed to be more of a struggle for the hero.
I looked closer at her outfit—an eaglethemed design, I vaguely remember how she looked under the mask her actual name was a different story. She was struggling against what appeared to be a light-manipulating villain, golden feathers catching the glare of concentrated solar beams.
"Second Chance," I said, still observing. The bracelet on my wrist activated, marking this moment in time.
Time to make my entrance and play the helpful hero.
I launched myself into the fray, my lyre materializing in my hands. The villain's attention immediately shifted to me—exactly what I'd hoped for, but also exactly what made this dangerous for the eagle hero.
"Another pest?" the light villain snarled, redirecting his attack toward me.
The eagle hero used the distraction to her advantage, swooping down with fierce determination, but her focus on the offensive left her guard down. The villain's backup attack—a blinding flash followed by a concentrated beam—was already forming behind her, and she was completely unaware.
Time slowed as I watched the deadly ray of light streak toward her back.
"Second Chance!"
I was back to the moment I'd entered the battle. This time, I knew exactly what to do.
I speed blitzed across the rooftop, my enhanced agility allowing me to close the distance in mere seconds. Just as the villain's surprise attack formed, I wrapped my arms around the eagle hero's waist and pulled her against me, spinning us both out of the beam's path.
We landed hard against an air conditioning unit, my back taking the brunt of the impact while she remained safely in my arms. For a moment, she seemed stunned—not from the near-miss, but from our sudden proximity. A slight as she looked up at me, our faces mere inches apart.
"You, who are—?" she stammered, clearly flustered.
"Lucky timing, lets handle him first." I said with a reassuring smile, helping her to her feet. Playing the charming hero came naturally enough. "Though I'd say we won't need much time to beat this guy."
The moment was brief. The light villain was already charging another attack, this one even more intense than before.
"We need to work together," I said, spinning my lyre. "Can you handle aerial strikes?"
She shook off her momentary confusion, her heroic determination returning full force.
"Just try to keep up, snake boy." Her voice echoed under her voice modulator.
Perfect. She was buying the act.
She took to the air while I stayed grounded, creating a two-pronged assault that kept the villain guessing. I made sure to coordinate with her—after all, I needed her to trust me. When he aimed high at the eagle hero, I struck low with precise lyre projectiles. It helped that I could throw it and instantly return. When he focused on me, she dove down with devastating aerial attacks.
"Watch out!" I called as the villain began to split his light into multiple beams. "He's going for a scatter shot!"
She immediately banked left, avoiding the attack. "Thanks for the heads up!"
We fell into a rhythm—my ground-based sonic attacks and throws complementing her aerial maneuvers perfectly. Every time the villain tried to corner one of us, the other would strike from his blind spot.
"Now!" I called out, seeing our opening as the villain overextended on a particularly powerful blast.
"Liberation!" the eagle hero shouted, her power manifesting as she broke free from the villain's light-based constraints that had been slowly forming around the battlefield.
I turned up my lyre to the maximum volume not to much louderthan a concentrated high pitch and played a powerful chord that resonated with her eagle bullroarer, our attacks combining into a concentrated wave of sound and wind that sent the villain stumbling backward.
But he wasn't done yet. Desperate, he began gathering all his remaining energy into one final, explosive attack. The air around him started to shimmer with dangerous heat.
"Second Chance!" I activated my power again, resetting to just before his ultimate move.
"Duck and cover!" I yelled to the eagle hero, who immediately trusted my warning and dropped low behind a similar ventilation unit.
This time, I was ready. As the villain unleashed his devastating light burst, I played a counter-melody that created a sonic barrier against the not so concusive light, deflecting the attack back at him. The reflected energy overwhelmed his own defenses, and he collapsed, defeated.
Just as we finished, I could see the android girl, Uncanny Valley, I think, wrapping up her own battle in the distance, her opponent similarly subdued.
The eagle hero landed beside me, breathing heavily but victorious. "Not bad for someone I've never seen before," she said, a hint of admiration in her voice.
"Well, I try to make a good first impression," I replied, dismissing my lyre. "Though I have to say, you're pretty impressive yourself. That liberation power of yours is something else."
She looked around carefully, checking for any cameras or civilian witnesses. The rooftop was clear, and the news helicopter was focused on the other battle site.
"You know," I said as she seemed satisfied with the privacy, "most heroes are pretty careful about secret identities and all that."
She smiled as her transformation began to fade, golden light surrounding her. "That's the thing about secret identities," she said, looking directly at me with knowing eyes as
"
Huh? What did she juat say?
How could she possibly know who I was?