The Perfect Run

“—Dynamis’ stock price has steadily crumbled since the disturbing revelations about their Knockoff Elixirs, and public outcry from former clients who recently lost their expensively-purchased powers,” the newscaster said on the hospital room’s TV.

Ryan squinted, as a video of Alphonse Manada’s explosion appeared behind the anchorwoman. The quality was terrible, probably due to radiation interferences, though one could see Wyvern and Enrique flying towards the blast’s source.

“—Dynamis’ spokesperson confirmed that Alphonse Manada, alias Fallout, was responsible for the explosion that shook the old harbor. The reasons for this action remain obscure for now, though Wyvern affirmed that the now former vice-president is now safely out of commission—”

The next images then showed the cyborg’s ejection into space. Only Ryan and Livia’s armors had been caught on tape, with the latter’s face and identity remaining mercifully hidden.

“The new acting Chairman, Enrique ‘Blackthorn’ Manada, promised a full indemnity to the victims of both incidents and a public trial to judge the responsible. His actions have so far been met with division among staff— ”

“I still can’t believe they came clean,” Mathias said, sitting on a chair near the window with his arms crossed. Ryan himself occupied the seat closest to Livia’s bed, Henriette snoring at his feet while Eugène-Henry unilaterally decided to occupy his lap. The courier had traded his damaged Saturn armor for his stylish suit, at least until he could repair it. “I thought they would at least sugarcoat the truth, not… spill everything to the press.”

“It was necessary,” Livia replied, wearing a white gown and bandages around her forehead. Braindead’s operation had prevented brain damage from her close brush with Fallout, but it would take her a few days to recover. “You cannot learn from your mistakes without owning up to them. Enrique understood that, and Wyvern all the more.”

After the battle with Fallout, Enrique had the group transported to Dynamis’ hospital, with Stitch and Alchemo tending to their wounds. Thankfully, Ryan’s evacuation warning had borne fruit, and though some locals had been wounded when Alphonse detonated himself, nobody had perished. The Perfect Run had been preserved.

At least, for the moment.

“Waves of resignations continue after Il Migliore’s disbandment,” the newscaster continued. “Though Wyvern promised that a, I quote, ‘clean and nonprofit law enforcement organization’ would take its place, the fate of many heroes remain uncertain—”

Ryan deactivated the TV. “How long before thunder strikes?” he asked his girlfriend.

“Not long,” she admitted, looking away through the windows and the veil of time both. “Things are moving quicker than I expected. Vulcan has already left the Augusti. My father learned of Wyvern’s visit and has ordered her death.”

Ryan’s heart skipped a beat. “Is she going to make it?”

To his relief, Livia answered with a nod. “Thankfully, Vulcan was no fool and spied on my father’s communications.”

“It doesn’t bode well if he’s already purging his own ranks though,” Mathias said with a frown.

The seer nodded slowly. “Fallout’s defeat and Hector’s arrest have him on edge.”

“If it’s too good to be true, it probably is?” Ryan guessed.

“Yes. He will make a push to take over New Rome, but he is smelling a trap.” Livia sighed. “His forces will move into Rust Town anytime soon… and if left to their own devices, they will find the bunker.”

“I will repair the Saturn armor one last time, and destroy the base,” Ryan replied, rising from his seat. Eugène-Henry immediately leapt from his lap to Livia’s. “Looking Glass, you gather the others. Livia, you stay here.”

“I won’t,” she replied, biting her lip. “Uncle Neptune will soon pick me up to take me to Sorrentos. My father won’t let me stay in a Dynamis hospital while he’s plotting their destruction.”

Mathias frowned, but shrugged. “Well, we have prepared for the attack for days. We can do it without you.”

“I wish I could supervise the assault,” Livia said with regret. “To make sure it goes well.”

“You could supervise it from afar,” Mathias pointed out. “My mother did that with the Carnival, and it worked very well for them.”

The fact that he was willing to relinquish command to Livia at all surprised Ryan. The courier guessed that watching her take wounds in an attempt to protect New Rome from Fallout helped build trust between them.

“My uncle won’t let me out of his sight.” Livia joined her hands, while Eugène-Henry nuzzled her fingers. “I… I will try to find an opening.”

“No,” Ryan insisted. “If Braindead says you should rest, then you will. If you don’t, he’s likely to put your brain in a jar, and you truly don’t want that.”

Livia pouted. “Ryan, I can’t stand back while you and the others risk their lives cleaning up my family’s messes.”

“You helped us clean our own with Bloodstream, and the Meta-Gang too,” Mathias replied. “To each their turn.”

Livia frowned, and refused to stay idle. “I can at least make some calls. This will be a game of rock-paper-scissors, and I can bring more counters to the table.”

Ryan squinted. “Did you set up everything so that we would have the perfect people assembled for the job?”

She answered with a sly, foxy grin. “I would be a poor seer if I didn’t.”

“I love it when you’re in a mastermind mode, pulling strings from the shadows...”

“All is going according to plan.” Her smile faltered. “I hope.”

Ryan glanced at his translucent friend. “Matty, can you leave us for a second?”

“I will brief the others,” the vigilante replied, before taking the door.

Livia exchanged a heavy glance with her boyfriend. “Ryan, after destroying the island…” She cleared her throat. “You’re going immediately after him, aren’t you? Alone?”

“Yes.” If Lightning Butt didn’t come for his head first. Ryan expected the madman to get off his mountain after watching Ischia Island go down in smoke. “It will be alright. I won’t kill him.”

“It’s not for his life I fear for. You can’t save.”

a smirk

“Don’t joke about this!”

but failed to suppress tears forming at the edge. She took a deep breath as the

not come back.” When she opened her eyes again, Ryan could see the fear and dread in them. “Either he

“Livia…” Ryan began.

Ryan, your sister just euthanized her father, and Enrique Manada arrested his own before banishing his brother into space. Even if both hoped it would end otherwise… they accepted that

mind. Instead of answering with words, he sat on the bed and

because I’ve seen how it could end, but not how it

remember what you told me at the restaurant the other night?” Ryan asked, trying to reassure her. “That the Ultimate One guided us together, and that I should carry on to see what it had in store. Even

“I thought I could shoulder

wanted to reassure him. To tell him it would be okay, that it would turn out alright, the same way he tried to

you can’t save… if you feel your

Livia.” Not his style. “After the destruction of his island, your Thundering Daddy will shock everyone he

your save point’s problem. Restore that safety net

though he doubted it would

locked eyes with him, and he lost himself

more than a few

drew a tired grin from her. “Make sure to succeed in

and Henriette one last time and exiting the room. He felt Livia’s worried gaze on

outside the door, wearing her terrible jumpsuit and carrying her water rifle. “Shortie,” Ryan said. “You

slightly red from dried tears, her body language appeared different… more confident. “Promise me you will come back

death flags, please?” Ryan asked. He had the intuition every promise he made jinxed him further. “Fine, I promise I will come back if it

sorrowful edge to it, but it was a smile all the

life when you developed

against… I know we will face it together.” She bit her lower lips. “It’s… it’s what Dad would have wanted, I think. My… my real dad, I mean. Not what

face closely. That bittersweet expression of someone who had found an answer to a lifelong question, though it had cost her a great deal.

did all I could, Ryan. It’s hard to explain but… I don’t feel happy about my father’s

Believe me, I

a monster if I could defend myself. I wanted to return my father

“You don’t anymore?”

things you can’t change. I tried the best I

save her father and would carry this pain all her life, but accepted that

Sabino had found

I should do now,” Len said. “I thought I would take the children away with me to the

now you’ve changed your

change. That the surface could only get worse. But…” Her eyes shone with a hint of hope. “It’s getting better. We made it

chuckled. “We did,

too.” Her cheeks blushed, as a shy grin formed on her lips. “I’ve… given thought about the Architect. She wants to create cities, to repopulate the countries devastated by the Genome Wars. I think I can help. Not just help Rust Town’s children, but all children across the globe. Make sure they grow up in better conditions than

he couldn’t feel prouder of her. “But it’s good, Len. You’ll help countless people,

“What do

they all had the power to make the world a better and more bountiful place, but they misused their gifts. Mechron made

grinned ear

“You will do great.”

if her inner commie had come out of hiding. He decided to tease her a bit. “Did I give you diabetes with

He let her arms move around his back, and his around her. He listened to her slow breathing, as his mind wandered to his first family. It had been almost nine centuries since his parents perished at the hands

family of blood that day, he had gained another forged in sweat and tempered with struggles. A

before breaking the hug. “We

Yes, indeed.

After they won.

bunker, Ryan laid on an operation table clad in his Saturn Armor as

upon the design further, the courier had taken the opportunity to install a few upgrades. The most important

colors. A voice channel opened, as

one he heard while in the Black World… but

“Ryan.”

His Elixir.

for a very long time,” Ryan said, wincing as a robot added

notion seemed to amuse the Elixir. “We emissaries do not

thought. Lightling? No, Darkling would get

“Magenta?”

would have been too simple. Or maybe you would prefer the Color out of Space? Coos? Or the Color out

did, it sounded quite pleased. “I like Magenta better,” it said. “Better than fuschia or purple. How long did you

me.” Now that Ryan thought of it, it meant that his Elixir had experienced

answered, vaguely amused. “We have bonded for so long that I understand human thoughts better than the rest of my kind, but it remains a

the metal ceiling above his head. He could almost hear the Augusti troops marching above his head, hundreds of meters beyond the steel and dirt. “Why

it,” his Elixir admitted. “All Violet powers ultimately derive from the Ultimate One. As Darkling said, we are priests. We do not bring miracles;

right, it had been an Illuminati plot from the start. “Then let

now… now you could harm him directly.” His Elixir sounded quite concerned. “Black is a sword without a hilt. Unlike other Colors, it is as dangerous for its wielder as

it is now, it might cause my save to go wrong.” That would explain why the Ultimate One would prevent the courier from accessing his trump card, but the implications worried him greatly. “If I can neither create a new

until the end, and see what lies beyond victory. Maybe…