Published at 10th of November 2026 10:48 am

Chapter 64 Face To Face

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Ill reach out to him and set up a meeting between the two of you, I said.

Just the two of us? Aubrey asked.

Yes; you arent pleased with me currently, but I do care about you, and I think a private meeting between the two of you would be beneficial to both parties, I answered.

Aubrey walks further into my apartment, wandering around while avoiding looking at me.

I doubt Aubrey has anything to offer Miles, but him having another person might help legitimize his mission. He will hopefully be a tempering influence on Aubrey's harsher instincts. Aubreys intense opinion about how Neuvohumans use their powers is one that is bound to get her in trouble eventually. Shes always been vocal about her frustrations with both Capes and Cowls, and Violet has only amplified that.

So when can we meet? She asked impatiently.

Ill reach out to him later today and give him your information. The two of you can figure out the where and when, I answered calmly.

How can I bring up the subject of having her give back the Tinkerer power?

Kay. And what were you saying about getting a new power?

I take a moment to center myself while I consider what kind of ability she should have. I have quite a large collection now, but whatever ability I give her cant be too powerful. Ill also have to give her two to disguise the origins of her abilities. The ones that come to mind immediately are Revenants, Punchs, Snares, and Tramps; all of them would suit her well. Contempt and aggression aren't terrible for her to have, especially once I've taken back Davis Allens rage. Aubreys anger issues were bad before I gave her the power, but it never caused her to get into any fights, physical or verbal, so she should be fine.

I'm not being laissez-faire about this. Shes going to need a very powerful ability if shes going to be able to back up Miles. Maybe I could do something similar when it comes to her powerset. I gave Miles a very strong power and then one less so. Essentially one S-rank power and then a B-rank one combined to form an A-rank combo ability. The strongest ability I have is Revenant's, but the question becomes what else to give her.

Stinger needs to fade away, Aubrey. Youll need a new Cape identity, and that means new powers. Its time for me to take back Davis ability, I responded.

Aubrey freezes in place. What, why? She asked defensively.

I said it's time for me to take it back, I repeated, extending my hand out. She quickly backs away from me, just out of my reach. She looks afraid of me. All the frigidiness and aloofness are gone, replaced by apprehensive fear. Oh, Aubrey. Im not going to depower and kill you. Not yet, anyway. No, my oldest friend, you still have a role to play. I take a step closer, putting both hands up nonthreateningly. Aubrey, its me. Eryk, your oldest and best friend.

Eryk, the guy who lied to my face for months. Eryk, the guy who keeps secrets from everyone. Eryk, the guy who is still hiding things. That Eryk? she said hysterically.

Aubrey It isnt as cut and dry as you think it is, I started to explain.

No, it is, Eryk. Right and wrong, Capes and Cowls, good and evil. Youre either one or the other. Which side are you on? She asked.

I thought we were past this. What is with your insistence on knowing things? Why cant you let sleeping dogs lie? The truth will not do anything but cause you pain. She doesnt realize that she doesnt really want the answers to these questions. Its better for her sanity if shes kept in the dark.

Its naive to think of the world like that. Its not so black and white; its shades of gray interspersed with random splotches of color. You need to trust me that Im only keeping secrets from you because I want to protect you. Quinstin has a Neuvohuman problem. Youve got Capes like Virtue and Sequence who flagrantly abuse their positions, and youve got Cowls like the Olympians who destroy and murder without a care. I know that you feel the same way I do when it comes to Neuvohumans. It isnt the worthy or virtuous who gain powers; its a lottery that can give the depraved individuals godlike abilities. They dont deserve these abilities; they havent earned them. The Heroes Union only cares about maintaining the status quo; otherwise, why wouldnt they have rooted out all the Cowl groups already? The BNA is just as bad, except its the politicians controlling them. Why should only the lucky be allowed to be exceptional? What if you had to prove you deserved the power to receive one? Think about what kind of world that would be if anybody could become a Neuvohuman once they showed they were worthy of it? I said, pleading my case to her.

The fear slips from her face, gradually transitioning into a thoughtful expression. Yes. YES. I just need to seal the deal.

All Im asking for is for you to trust that Im still the same person you grew up with, that Im not some secret evil villain, and that I genuinely want whats best for the city. Talk to Miles, hear him out, and see if you dont think what were doing is for the best, I explained.

One chance, one conversation; thats it, she said, stepping forward to clasp my hand.

I start taking Davis power back, counting the minutes in my head so that the charade can be upheld. Deep inside my inner vault, I feel it. The Tinkerer ability is back within me, and Aubrey has vanished from my power sense.

Ill call Miles in a bit. Thank you for giving me a chance, buddy, I said.

Yeah, a chance is all it is, she replied.

I dont know what else to say to her, so I let her leave without another word. Once the door shuts behind her, I head over to my dresser drawer to swap my civilian phone with my Cowl one and dial up Miles number.

*Brrrring*

*Brrrring*

*Brrrring*

Hello, sir, how are you today? Miles asked me.

Fine. Did you see the news report about the Union?

Yes, I did, he replied curtly.

I assumed youd be happier knowing that corruption had been rooted out of their organization, but you sound like youve swallowed a lemon. Whats wrong?

Somehow that awful b-witch, Titania, managed to elude the Ethics Committee; either that or the corruption extends even further up than I believed, he answered.

They demoted that squad captain, Sequence, so they seem to be taking it seriously. It might take time for them to fully uncover her schemes, I said offhandedly.

Either they will or I will; no one will stop me from stripping her of every single thing she has. Her fame, her title, her wealth, and adoration- none of it belongs to her. It should be mine. I swear to you, boss, I will take everything from her, he pledged angrily.

I know; Ive never doubted your commitment to the cause, but I didnt just call you to catch up. I called because I have a job for you, I said.

Whatever you need, Nobody, Ill do it; you know I will.

I do, I do. Miles, there is a girl that I believe would do well under your tutelage. Before you readily agree to this request, there is a slight wrinkle in this plan that needs to be ironed out, I said.

I accept, no matter what the wrinkle is, he stated.

Im going to text you an address; meet me on the roof of that building in fifteen minutes, I said, hanging up immediately.

I text him the address of my apartment building and then grab a coat and beanie out of my closet. The weather app on my apartments smart hub says its negative three degrees. Im going to freeze my ass off up there. Stuffing a pair of gloves into the coat pockets, I unlock the safe containing my mask and two vials. One containing thirty-five percent hydrochloric acid I took from school and the other containing thirty-five percent hydrogen peroxide. The vials go in the pocket with my gloves and the msk I keep under my coat. Time to go.

A quick trip up the elevator gets me to the top floor where the most expensive apartments are. These floors have four apartments instead of the twenty or so that the other floors do. Ignoring the apartments, I walk over to the emergency exit staircase. The door thankfully doesnt set off any alarms. Wouldnt want people to be unable to use the stairs if the elevators are down. Instead of going straight down, I head up a flight of stairs and reach a hardened steel door that has a keycard and biometric print scanner.

I pull my mask out, holding it to my face with one hand and twisting the ring to transform it. The white helmet expands out, encasing my head. I slot both vials into the ports on the helmet, clicking them securely. Rotating the ring again switches the sprayer attachment on the face to a fine single stream, and a click changes the ratio to 2:1. It likely looks quite silly, the projected face making a blowing motion as it mirrors my own. A pressurized laser of the mixed chemicals bursts out, hitting the door lock. Acrid yellow smoke comes off the metal as it melts a hole through it. Its a good thing that this helmet filters air; I wouldnt want to breathe that in.

I nudge the door open with my boot and step onto the roof. The city is alive and well, even under a layer of snow. The winter air hurts feels like sandpaper on my skin despite the gloves. Its freezing. What was the point of the Polar Icecap Restoration Project if we werent going to fix the temperature? I refuse to believe that Equinoxs Tinkertech is capable of undoing two and a half centuries of climate change, but cant make New England winters less fucking cold. PIRP is one of maybe ten Tinkertech solutions that the BNA has greenlit for humanity since its inception. From what I remember about it in history class, Equinox was under instructions to have at least seventy-five percent of the machines be of mundane means that regular people could repair and maintain. They shouldve let him do the whole thing as Tinkertech if it means we could get rid of the damn cold.

The roof of my apartment building has giant HVAC appliances on it, along with generators and cables. Theres no snow on anything, and I can tell why; the heat all this stuff is giving off makes it impossible for the snow to gather. I unlock the two vials and pocket them. Miles should be here shortly. Speak of the devil. Or in this case, angel is a better descriptor. Miles isnt dressed in warm clothes; he isnt even in a coat. Hes wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and a white tee. Three sets of luminescent feathered wings of resplendent light are on his back, flapping slowly as he lands. The snowflakes melt off him, his hair showing me that hes got plenty of fire absorbed. His eyes glow as he looks at me like a holy specter of death.

Sorry. I came as quickly as I could. I hope you havent been waiting too long, Nobody, he apologized.

Its fine, dont worry about it. I called you here because of the matter we discussed on the phone, I said.

Yes, there is a woman you would like me to take under my wing.

Yes. Shes a former Probationary Heroes Union member who has been let down by her teacher, her former friend, and a group that she used to idolize, I explained.

The Union failed her too? Its a tale as old as time. A shame that someone as young as that had to learn the lesson firsthand. But its better in the long term for the wool to be ripped from her eyes.

Mhmm. Now, for the wrinkle I spoke about: she doesnt know about Nobody or Momentus or any of what were doing, I started to say.

This will be like it was when Tuesday and I drove Emma here. You know that I can keep a secret and Im not curious, Miles interrupted.

I hold a hand up to stop him from talking. Hes loyal, and itll be easier this way.

As I was saying. Shes also one of my childhood friends and therefore knows my identity. There is no way for the two of you to work with each other while keeping my identity secret, I said, tapping the ring against the helmet. It transforms back into a mask, falling off my face into my gloved hand. My name is Eryk Blakely. I am a seventeen-year-old university student.

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