Chapter 21: Recovery and Upgrade
The safehouse lounge, a repurposed break room off the clock tower, was a patchwork of mismatched furniture and flickering fluorescent lights, the air thick with the greasy scent of pepperoni pizza and melted cheese. Two cardboard boxes sat open on a battered coffee table, their contents half-devoured. Jax Reed sprawled on the floor, his too-big A.R.G.U.S. hoodie bunching at his elbows as he stretched his bruised hamstrings, the ache a reminder of the sewer's toll. He peeled a stubborn piece of pepperoni from the roof of his mouth, grimacing. "Calories don't count when you're dodging cosmic doom, right?" he thought, his sarcasm a familiar shield.
Peacemaker lounged on a threadbare couch, his chrome helmet resting on the floor, reflecting the TV's glow as a documentary about endangered eagles droned on. He munched a pizza slice, his patriotic bravado softened by the casual setting. Emilia Harcourt stood by the window, her cigarette's smoke curling in the dim light, her cynical edge a constant presence. Leota Adebayo sat on a folding chair, her laptop closed, her glasses fogged from the room's warmth, her empathetic presence grounding the scene.
"I swear, that League scout kicked my shin fifty times," Jax griped, grabbing another slice, the cheese burning his fingers. "My body's one big grape-colored bruise. Calories don't count when you're facing a cosmic villain, right? That's the rule."
Peacemaker looked up, his face earnest. "They absolutely don't count. This is a fuel-up for Freedom, Jax. You earned that pepperoni." He leaned forward, his voice rising. "My flanking maneuver in the tunnel was pure genius—you just didn't see it because you were dodging that speed freak's scanner." His hands gestured wildly, reenacting the move with exaggerated flair.
Harcourt exhaled smoke, her dry sarcasm cutting through. "Your 'maneuver' was tripping into a dumpster, Chris. Adebayo saved your ass. We're effective, not geniuses." She flicked ash into a cracked mug, her lips twitching in a rare half-smile.
As if on cue, Eagly, Peacemaker's majestic eagle, hopped onto the table, his talons clicking. With audacious precision, he plucked a piece of pepperoni from Jax's slice, his beady eyes daring a challenge. Jax stared, pizza in hand, too tired to react. "An eagle stealing my food. Perfect," he thought, chuckling.
The absurdity broke the tension, and Jax's laugh echoed, startling Peacemaker. The team—cynic, moral compass, patriot—felt like home. "From chaos to pizza night," he thought, grabbing another slice. "Alright, you're all geniuses of chaos," he conceded, pulling out his phone to access the system's interface, its blue glow lighting his face.
[SYSTEM: CUMULATE AT 2.]
[NO POINTS ADDED.]
Jax moved to a worn armchair in the corner, the documentary's drone and Peacemaker's chewing a comforting backdrop. The system's holographic interface flickered, its light cool and pure. His SP stood at 235, hard-earned through chaos and survival. He needed an edge for the Alpha raid—a way to control his volatile summons. "Sarcasm levels rising, but I need time, not luck," he thought.
He found the Increased Duration upgrade: +1 minute for 20 SP. It was a steep cost, but an extra minute could mean the difference between victory and a rogue Homelander leveling Gotham. "System, purchase Increased Duration upgrade," he subvocalized, his voice steady.
[SYSTEM: UPGRADE SELECTED: INCREASED DURATION (+1 MINUTE).]
[COST: -20 SP.]
[UPGRADE COMPLETE.]
[NEW SUMMON DURATION: 3-6 MINUTES.]
[CURRENT SP: 215.]
A warm pulse spread through his chest, the system's confirmation a subtle shift in his control. He closed his eyes, testing it mentally: Summon Homelander. Command: Neutralize hostiles. He lingers, leash tighter. The image was vivid, empowering. His summon count neared 10, each one imprinting echoes on his stats, his control growing. "One minute. That's my edge," he thought, confidence surging.
He folded the interface away, the hologram fading. His hands, once those of an office drone, now bore the callouses of a disruptor. "From chaos to commander," he thought, standing. Adebayo watched him, her empathetic gaze catching his. "You okay, Jax? That system… it's changing you," she said, her voice soft but probing.
Jax slid onto the sofa beside Peacemaker, grabbing another slice. "So, who'd you summon this time, Peacemaker? A villain who hates freedom?" he teased, deflecting.
Peacemaker took the bait. "No, man, I told you my flank was perfect. Could've summoned a bad guy who loves freedom, though. Gotta cover all bases." His grin was infectious, his hands gesturing wildly.
Adebayo leaned in, her tone serious. "Jax, I'm talking about you. That constant pull of another dimension—do you ever feel… a part of yourself fading? Like a memory skipping?" Her glasses slipped, a mundane tic amplifying her concern.
Jax's smile faded, the pizza slice twirling in his hand. "She's too sharp," he thought. The memory fade hit a nerve—his old life's details blurring, the faces of coworkers, his boss's name, softening like wet ink. "Sometimes," he admitted, his voice catching. "I forget what my old desk looked like. It's like this life's painting over the old one. But it's a better painting. More explosions, less TPS reports."
Harcourt turned from the window, inhaling sharply, her cigarette's glow flaring. The lapse was fleeting, masked by her cynical mask. "Enough therapy," she snapped. "Adebayo's pattern analysis is in. The Alpha's vulnerable one hour after midnight—its feeding cycle aligns with the remnants' chemical output. We hit then. High-danger mission. Gear up in two hours."
[SYSTEM: CUMULATE HOLDS AT 2.]
[NO POINTS ADDED.]
Jax wiped grease from his fingers, the camaraderie grounding him. "Right. Freedom and the end of the arc. Peacemaker, no Cap'n Crunch in the sewer. I need a clear head for this multi-summon." He stood, the plan forming—a chaotic showdown with the Alpha, his summons the key. "From chaos to finale," he thought, heading to his gear, Adebayo's empathy lingering as a reminder of the stakes.
[SYSTEM: RANDOM FLAVOR: MEMORY FADE DETECTED.]
To supporting Me in Pateron .
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