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.”

anyone tell you?” Ryan asked with a smirk that

“Don’t joke about this!”

forming at the edge. She took a deep breath as the dog started

her eyes again, Ryan could see the fear and dread in

“Livia…” Ryan began.

Enrique Manada arrested his own before banishing his brother into space. Even if both hoped it would end otherwise… they accepted that it couldn’t. While

weighed on her mind. Instead of answering with words, he sat

into her own and squeezing his fingers. “I’m scared because I’ve seen how it could

you remember what you told me at the restaurant the other night?” Ryan asked, trying to reassure her. “That the Ultimate One guided

Livia admitted, sighing. “I thought I could shoulder the doubt

wanted to reassure him. To tell him it would be okay, that

you can’t save… if you feel your

his island, your Thundering Daddy will shock everyone he can get his metal hands on. If I can’t defeat him,

your save point’s problem. Restore that

have a solution,” Ryan replied, though he doubted it would work. Still, it cost nothing to try.

but I don’t want this to be the last time we see each other, you understand that?” She locked eyes with him, and he lost himself in the blue

tasted like strawberry, soft and gentle to the touch. The contact lasted no more than a few furtive seconds, but the courier wished it had lasted a lifetime. “I will,” he promised.

from her. “Make

Eugène-Henry and Henriette one last time and exiting the room. He felt Livia’s worried gaze on his back as

wearing her terrible jumpsuit

eyes remained slightly red from dried

He had the intuition every promise he made jinxed him further. “Fine, I promise

to it,

“You saved my life when you

you before, Riri. What we have is more powerful than friendship. Whatever we are up 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.

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

held his gaze. “I… I did all I could, Ryan. It’s hard to explain but…

understand, Shortie. Believe me,

I thought it was my fault,” she admitted. “That dad… that dad wouldn’t have become a monster if I could defend myself.

“You don’t anymore?”

I tried the best I could. It’s… it’s time I move on. I can’t change the past, but I can improve

carry this pain all her life, but accepted that

had

should do now,” Len said. “I thought

you’ve

yes. I thought the world couldn’t change. That the surface could only get worse. But…” Her

chuckled. “We

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

down he couldn’t feel prouder of her. “But it’s good,

frowned. “What do you

kind heart, Len, and that’s what matters most I think. Mechron, the Alchemist, even Fallout… they all had the power to make the world a better and more bountiful place, but they misused their gifts. Mechron made weapons, the Alchemist empowered the likes of Augustus, and Fallout lost sight of what truly mattered to him.

ear

“You will do great.”

much that Ryan wondered if her inner commie had come out of hiding. He decided to tease her a bit. “Did I give you

his jap with a sisterly hug. 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 of raiders, so long that he could barely remember how they looked, or even their names. Ryan had been

he had gained another

said, before breaking the hug. “We

Yes, indeed.

After they won.

on an operation table clad in his Saturn Armor as

a few upgrades. The most

you hear me?” he asked, his helmet’s lens shifting with the Elixirs’ rainbowy colors. A

synthetic voice that answered through the channel was unlike the one he heard while in the Black World… but Ryan

“Ryan.”

His Elixir.

wincing as a robot added a new chest plate on the armor. “Yet I never

the Elixir. “We emissaries do not

thought. Lightling? No, Darkling would get jealous.

“Magenta?”

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

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

you already know? I mean, you are inside me.” Now that Ryan thought of it, it

no peeper,” the entity answered, vaguely amused. “We have bonded for so long that I understand human thoughts better than the rest of my kind, but it remains

troops marching above his head, hundreds of meters beyond the steel and dirt. “Why did you prevent

Elixir admitted. “All Violet powers ultimately derive from the Ultimate One. As Darkling said, we are priests.

from the start. “Then let me rephrase myself: why did your boss

connection to the Black has grown, Ryan. Before you could barely consume Fallout’s Red Flux, but now… now you could harm him directly.” His Elixir sounded quite concerned. “Black

would explain why the Ultimate One would prevent the courier from accessing his trump card, but the implications worried him greatly. “If I can

the Ultimate One sent you a message. To carry on until the end, and see what lies beyond victory. Maybe… maybe you won’t die at all. Maybe you will ascend