The Perfect Run

“So you say the high-security labs are so reinforced, they would survive missile strikes?” Ryan asked Nora as the group walked through the hospital’s hallway, guided by the Dynamis nurse. The hummed a song to himself, while Wardrobe carried flowers and chocolates in her arms.

“Yes, the tinted glass windows outside are just for show,” the Architect explained. “Separate energy generators keep the whole floor running without any external help needed, and the alarm system can detect any intruder. And there is only one way in, through the elevator and then a blast door.”

“No emergency exit?” Ryan asked, realizing his options to infiltrate the lab unnoticed had greatly narrowed. “Not to criticize you, but it sounds like an oversight to me. What if there’s a nuclear detonation inside?”

“Bite me, Mr. Manada wanted the place to be ‘secure, not safe,’” Nora replied with a smile. “I suppose they experiment with dangerous creatures and they don’t want to take any chance of them escaping. I mean, have you seen what they use at the Colosseum Maximus?”

“I just love the new Cyber-Tyranno design!” Wardrobe commented. “Especially the holographic goggles, very classy.”

“Oh, about that, people asked the to participate in the new tournament’s opening match!” Ryan’s disciple showed off his chest with pride. “Panda vs Velociraptors, the ultimate showdown!”

“If you ask me, it’s a colossal waste of resources.” Nora rolled her eyes. “The money would be better spent on hospitals than dinosaurs. They cost a fortune to make, let alone feed.”

“Frankly, I’m torn,” Ryan admitted. “I understand where you come from, but dinosaurs have a special mass appeal. Though if someone were to blow up the whole building because they’re too lazy to use the stairs, would the labs remain intact?”

“Well, yes, they would.” Nora looked at Ryan strangely. “Why would terrorists be too lazy to use the stairs?”

“It’s purely hypothetical,” Ryan lied through his teeth. “But that’s good to know!”

Eventually, the nurse led them to a white hospital room; or as Ryan called it, Felix’s litter.

The young hero looked far better than a few days ago, when Acid Rain had stabbed him through the gut. Besides the fact he needed to stay in bed with bandages around his chest, Atom Cat looked almost perfectly healthy. Though he had been forced to trade his hideous suit and mask for white hospital clothes, which Ryan considered an improvement.

No wonder Livia fell for a face like that, Ryan thought, as he observed Felix’s adorable visage. However, he soon remembered what Fortuna had said, about how her mother used her power for esthetic surgery. Did Venus do the same with her son? Now that Ryan thought of it, Atom Cat’s facial features seemed a bit too perfect.

Poor kitten. Even his face wasn’t his own.

“Guys,” Felix said, unsurprised by Nora’s presence. Wardrobe probably introduced them to one another in the past.

“Felix, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Wardrobe immediately all but dumped the chocolates and flowers on the patient’s lap, much to his shock. “Did they treat you well?”

“Of course,” the Dynamis nurse said with an amused smile, before closing the door behind them, “I will leave you alone, but please don’t make too much noise. The other patients need rest.”

The scratched the back of his head, a bit confused. “I thought you shared a room with… the glass guy...”

“Translucent,” Ryan said. “Or Semi-Transparent for friends.”

“The Shroud,” Felix replied. “He was transferred to intensive care after some shrapnel hit his vital organs. His injuries were so severe, they had to put him in an artificial coma.”

This bothered Ryan. Though Matty Boy had killed him a few times, the time-traveler had grown to appreciate the vigilante. The transparent hero had provided a lot of help across the loops, and without his assistance, Big Fat Adam might have gotten his hands on the Bahamut by now.

“Will he survive?” Wardrobe asked, her expression deflating. Atom Cat shook his head, unable to answer. “It is my fault… I should have thought of a better persona.”

“You couldn’t know, Yuki,” Nora reassured her. “It was in the heat of battle. No one will blame you for losing your cool.”

“You saved my life with your nurse cosplay,” Felix pointed out.

The fashion designer didn’t look convinced. “Yes, but… I’ve done some research, and there are a few personas I could have used to save you both. Though I wish White Mages were public domain…”

“It was your first time in that situation, right?” Ryan asked Wardrobe, who nodded slowly. “Nobody can blame you for not being perfect on your first try. Believe me, I know. Practice makes perfect.”

His words were meant to encourage Wardrobe, but they worsened her mood further. “I don’t want to practice watching people die,” she said, holding her arms as if to protect herself. The Architect put a comforting hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder, trying to reassure Wardrobe.

“So, um, Felix, when will you be out?” the attempted to change the subject.

“Tomorrow, but I won’t stay with Il Migliore,” Felix said, before dropping the bomb. “I’m joining the Carnival.”

“What?” The news was enough to draw Wardrobe out of her depressed mood. “No way, Quicksave the Pandas only had one successful outing and you’re all leaving? That’s like breaking the band after a hit song!”

“W-we can form a duo, Yuki,” said the trying to salvage the brand. “Yin and Yang!”

“If you change your hero name to Circus Lion, I’ll disown you,” Ryan warned Atom Cat. Felix ignored the courier’s jab, and seemed quite uncomfortable in his presence. Something had changed.

“Is this about the costume?” Wardrobe asked Felix with a frown. “Because Enrique won’t let you join the pro-league unless you change your outfit?”

“Wearing what I want is just a bonus,” Felix said with a smirk. “Sorry, but I feel more in line with the Carnival’s values than Il Migliore’s. Too much red tape gets in the way of doing what’s right.”

Ryan couldn’t say he was surprised, but he wondered how Lightning Dad would react. Mob Zeus could barely be talked out of murdering his godson for joining Dynamis; joining Sunshine’s team might very well push the aging psychopath over the edge. Come to think of it, both Lucky Girl and Livia had been strangely silent lately, neither sending messages.

A storm was brewing in the background. Ryan could feel it in his bones.

“I feel so sad about this,” Wardrobe lamented. “We could have done wonders, the four of us…”

“We can still team-up from time to time,” Ryan argued. “A crossover event every month, until our fans get sick of it!”

“Yes, but it’s not the same,” the fashion designer replied. “I really liked hanging out with all of you.”

“You could always form your own group,” Nora suggested. “I think Enrique would be open to the idea.”

I will stay in New

finally paid attention to

life will

Perfect Run for New Rome. In the best case scenario, he might stay with Len and the children, but the time-traveler would likely go back to the road. Staying in one place made him restless, and he couldn’t live without seeking new adventures to

courier didn’t feel

he was in

training is now complete, young disciple,” Ryan said, trying to sound wise.

The poor manbear struggled not to cry.

like a very lonely existence, Ryan. You’re sure

sweet creature too good for

she replied with a

later,” Nora said as she checked the

Ryan asked the others,

wants every Il Migliore member to join a big meeting,” Wardrobe said with a sad face. “Sorry, Ryan, it’s members only… I really argued for you to be present, but the new CEO said

take long for Ryan to put the pieces together, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Well, I’ll

my place!” The suggested. “It’s small,

as she turned to face Ryan. “Perhaps you

to

to Felix for the short visit, and then left alongside

group had left. “A meeting that involves all heroes in their employ barely two days after the Rust Town raid. Alphonse Manada and Hargraves want to

Felix asked, his tone suddenly caged and wary. “Or is it

out soon anyway,” Ryan replied with a shrug. “I’m just trying to make conversation. Also, I thought you didn’t

deserved to know the truth.” Well, that explained her reaction. “I told her everything. How Augustus murdered her parents, and arranged her adoption so

believe you?” Ryan slouched on the nearest chair, a leg over the armrest. “She has no memories of her

can do that with his power. Psychically torture people to madness, or gaslight them into

Bliss Factory later. “Well, if you truly

Felix glared at Ryan. “Blackthorn told me

that explained the sudden distance between them. “If I told you it was part of a master plan to get

“First my sister, now my

in an open

Cat didn’t find him funny. “Are you in bed

literally?” Technically, he did sleep with Jasmine, but that was one loop ago. “Because the answer is no for both. I swear I haven’t touched your sister, though her power doesn’t make it easy. She’s not as

closed his eyes for a second, as if he banished a dirty image in his own mind. “Livia is too careful to approach someone outside the hierarchy. Even with Fortuna around. And that’s not all. You knew that Fortuna was my sister and that I dated Livia, information only available

going. “You think I got

replied sarcastically. “I just don’t

I have helped Translucent and Sunshine if I worked with Augustus?” Ryan asked a simple question, glancing at the chocolates Wardrobe had left to Felix. He had the feeling they would go uneaten. “I can’t help it if everyone wants a piece of

sneered, his former friendliness gone. “So, you’re just a mercenary

though I wish I were.” Good grief, if Ryan had been paid for every loop he spent in New Rome, he would be even richer. “Truth is, Kitten, I

Protect her

While Ryan respected Felix’s decision to cut ties with his family, he sympathized too

Atom Kitten looked away. “I never did. Not

“What do you

was just a branch of the Camorra. Our match was decided back when we were children. I… I still care about

an undercurrent of reproach in his voice. “How you went there to hide from your families. You were misleading her back

to make it work, but…” Atom Kitten shook his head. “You can’t

pitied Livia most

Len painted all over the walls,

you about the hideout. About me. That’s how

that far. We threatened to kill each other

to each other.” Felix

me of someone else. Someone I tried

minute, before speaking

The courier flinched.

you can’t. His hold over her is too strong. The only way

like Len

that what you’re trying to do?” Ryan asked. “Dynamis and the Carnival plan to attack Augustus, and Lightning Butt won’t take you siding with them well. Your parents can’t

shoulder in an attempt to look stronger than

down the Augusti,”

has a weapon. Something that might put him out

His

even if they must pay the price. Or else, things will never change. Bliss

phone rang. He quickly brought it out of his

a scoff. “Don’t answer. I won’t take

taking the call anyway.

Her tone was frantic, almost panicked. “Is Felix with

won’t speak

run,” she interrupted him, “you need to take him and run. You need to get out of

frowned, straightening in his chair. “Princess, I have a life, I can’t drop

you don’t, Dad will have

place, looking at the oblivious Atom Kitten. “Because he joined

breaking. Though he couldn’t hear her side of the conversation, Felix clearly seemed to understand the gist of it. “I’m… I’m trying to prevent it, but the possibilities get worse every minute. I… I can’t see a way out, but I can’t see

bring

the Manada. Felix won’t be safe