Dashing Devil Omnibus 1: Books 1-3, page 114
Daisy came floating over. “Okay, so what did you want to show me?”
He nodded at the view screen. “How to access the team's profiles for dietary requirements and health tracking. First, let it register you as a user.”
Her access would be very different from Boyd’s. He was already listed as the team’s Captain and would have to get used to his new menus and options. Daisy didn’t need to deal with all the sub-options he would have to go through to get to the same data.
She floated up and the viewscreen switched over to her much simpler display. She had options for inventory, messaging, tasks, and team profiles. It was meant to be simple to use and showing her how to access the information she needed to do her job was relatively quick and painless.
“You weigh four hundred and seventy-eight pounds?!” she gasped, her shock plainly evident upon getting to that portion of his profile.
Boyd had used his profile as an example. The figure made him glance down at his waist; he’d gained a few pounds since the last time he’d checked. They’d likely weighed him when he was in the hospital and updated his profile automatically. He didn’t see any chub or anything forming, but his weight didn’t fluctuate by much, so he was concerned. While exercise slowly made him stronger, his muscle mass didn’t increase. Not normally, at least.
‘You are so not getting fat,’ Mindy sighed into his mind. ‘If I had to guess, it is related to your increase in Power after Raev.’
Boyd wondered when his thought voyeur was going to join them.
‘Some of us need a little time to get presentable in the morning,’ she responded. ‘Besides, this exchange has been good for both you and for Daisy. Sorry for distracting you.’
“Yes, I am denser than a human my size would be,” Boyd responded.
“But it says your minimal caloric intake is only six hundred calories, with a recommended intake of six thousand calories.” Daisy studied the screen.
“Yeah, I don’t technically need to eat at all. The six hundred calories are only required to avoid any psychological ill effects,” Boyd explained the discrepancy.
“The note makes it sound like you just get grumpy,” Daisy responded.
“Which is a psychological effect.” Boyd smirked at the small woman.
They were maintaining personal space but working on the same viewscreen put them in close proximity for the first time. It also made her fresh floral scent and frankly absurdly pretty features hard to ignore, but Boyd remained resolute in his intent to ignore such things—only to be frustrated when his attempt to use his Power to suppress him noticing such things with an act of will failed once more.
“Pssht,” the fairy like woman made an amused snorting sound. “Alright, fair enough. Okay… and it says that your optimal diet leans heavily towards meat and proteins.”
“You can click in here to see more detailed recommendations like this,” Boyd showed her by clicking the ‘details’ button. “It uses the most recent data available to calculate anything missing from our diets and what we might have too much of. It’s not really applicable to me, though, my Power heals the negative effects of a poor diet. There is a connection to protein and the strength I have gained through training, though.”
“Okay, and everyone has something like this?” Daisy asked as she read through the details page attentively.
“Yes. Don’t worry too much, though, there is a meal planning tool that will help so you don’t have to do all the math or cook individual meals,” Boyd explained. “I’ll show you that next.”
From there, Boyd spent about ten minutes showing her the very basics of the system and where to find remote training materials. In that, he included the recipe and video tutorial database he’d found easiest to search and use when he was learning how to cook. “...and of course, feel free to find me for any questions. Or send me a message if you prefer,” he finished.
“I will and thank you.” Daisy smiled politely up at him. “I meant to ask if you could get in touch with Connor.”
“Is something wrong?” Boyd asked, concerned for the boy whose life had just been flipped upside down.
“Not at all.” Daisy shook her head, causing her hair to swirl with iridescent color. “He’s living it up, actually. They put him in a really nice hotel while he waits to transfer to his new school. He ordered room service five times yesterday and would have eaten himself sick, if not for the temporary caretaker assigned to him… some really nice older lady. Seems like a doting grandma type. He’s loving it.”
“Oh, good, I’m glad Mrs. Daddow is working out,” Silvie said from behind them, causing Boyd to jump. Daisy didn’t react, making him believe that she’d sensed the silently floating woman’s approach.
“Let us know if she gives you any trouble,” Silvie continued. “We are paying her a lot, so I expect Poppins’ level of care.”
“Poppins?” Daisy asked.
“Oh, she’s from an Old Earth vid called Mary Poppins. She was like the best nanny ever.” Silvie giggled. “I’m unclear on if she was supposed to have Powers, or if it was an imaginary thing. Old Earth media gets weird on that.”
“Huh,” Daisy responded. “I’d have to watch it to tell you, but Mrs. Daddow has been wonderful. Wait… you are paying her?”
“Mhmm. Davis didn’t have any caretakers he trusted available, so we went with a civilian agency,” Silvie explained. “We didn’t want to bring attention to Connor, so we are paying for the hotel as well—through an anonymous account, of course. We didn’t want him in The Tower because other Directors have eyes there.”
She turned to Boyd and added, “I set it up out of our joint account. I figured you would want to contribute.”
“Thank you,” Boyd nodded as he walked over to his lover to pull her into a hug and give her a good morning kiss. She was dressed conservatively—for Silvie. She was wearing another light blue silk nightgown, but this one covered her to the knee. The top still displayed some cleavage, but nowhere near what Boyd would have considered approaching indecency.
“Raev’s brushing her tails, she will be right out,” Silvie whispered in his ear, answering his unasked question.
“But…” Daisy seemed to be at a loss. Apparently, the fact that they were personally paying for her brother’s room, board, and care was an issue for her.
“Don’t let yourself be troubled,” Mindy’s voice joined the conversation before she came into sight. “Heroes are well paid, and neither of these two ever spent much. What they’ve invested in your brother and you so far barely amounts to a week of their combined pay.”
“Still, Connor could stay in a standard hotel room, or heck, even back at our apartment. I’m still renting it. All he really needs is someone to make sure he’s eating, and washing, I suppose. He’s only there for a few days,” Daisy responded.
Mindy came into sight with a gentle smile on her already darkly painted lips. She was wearing a voluminous garment that shrouded her splendid body much better than the black dress with its small skirt that she’d worn the day before. It was, of course, black with some dark purple swooping embroidery near the neck and on the sleeves.
The piece of clothing covered her completely and was not snuggly fit at all, but as she moved, it pulled against her curves to show them off. Boyd couldn’t tell if it was meant to show off her body, or to hide it.
‘It’s called a kaftan, and this one is supposed to be a bit of a tease. I’ve discovered a fondness for them. I hope you do, too. They are excellent for cuddling.’
Boyd found he certainly liked this one.
Out loud, Mindy replied, “Yes, I’m sure he would be fine with less luxury. Moving him out of the apartment was a safety measure, though, and choosing a nice hotel was to take advantage of their security. The same with the expensive nanny. Plus, luxury conditions have been shown to assist with separation anxiety.”
Boyd could tell by her height that Mindy was either wearing more comfortable shoes or going barefoot as she approached.
“We want to make sure his transition is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The school he is going too is inclusive, but having a taste of ‘the good life’ will probably help him understand some of his peers a little better. Besides, both of you have struggled and worked hard enough to deserve some good things going your way.”
Daisy blinked at Boyd’s former and future lover. “Arguing with you is impossible, isn’t it?” the smaller woman with iridescent hair asked his tallest and darkest love.
“It does help that I can address your thoughts before they solidify into full-fledged objections, yes.” Mindy smiled warmly.
She closed in and Boyd pulled her into a hug, during which he realized that kaftans were truly wondrous pieces of clothing. Mindy felt warm and soft against him, the loose-fitting garment made it feel like only a thin sheet separated them. It took an act of will to keep the gesture to a simple, brief hug of greeting.
‘We'll get some more cuddling in tomorrow.’
Boyd sighed internally at the delay.
“Fine, I won’t complain and will instead say thank you very much,” Daisy responded.
“Of course, it’s the least we could do after scooping you up like this,” Silvie said. “Thanks for dinner last night, it was very good.”
Boyd smiled at Silvie, pleased that she’d remembered her manners better than he had done.
“It will get better, and you’ll be pleased to know Boyd made most of today’s breakfast,” Daisy responded with more seriousness than Boyd thought the situation required. “He showed me how he learned to cook, so I’ll figure it out.”
“What you made really was fine, but I won’t discourage you from getting better.” Silvie giggled.
“Something smells delicious!” Laura’s voice called out, the nurse resurfacing from her clinic.
Boyd wondered just how well equipped they were for her inventory to have taken so long. He also made a note to follow up on any inventory requirements he had as the team’s Captain.
Laura was dressed casually in blue jeans and a comfortable looking but fitted burgundy sweater. The outfit was modest, but displayed the pleasantly built body her scrubs had hid from him in their initial encounters. She smiled brightly as she came into sight, climbing the nearest staircase.
“Good morning every-one!” she called in a sing-song tone. Apparently, Laura was a morning person.
“Good morning, Laura!” Silvie chirped back. Boyd wouldn’t describe Silvie as being a morning person, but she was capable of bright cheer as long as she was conscious.
“Good morning,” Boyd rumbled back, letting his voice carry to her.
“Good. I’m not late. That smells freaking delicious. Good morning,” Raev’s voice entered the conversation and Boyd chuckled.
A few short days ago he only exchanged morning greetings with Silvie. He turned to find Raev descending the stairs wearing black yoga pants and a deep green tank top. They came together for a hug and a brief kiss of greeting.
“That leaves Tinker.” Silvie had apparently taken a headcount.
Boyd felt for her over their Bond and sensed that she was focused on something. “She’s in her lab,” he guessed. “I’ll go get her. Daisy…”
“Let me,” Raev cut in before he could ask the fledgling cook to check the casseroles when the timer went off. It would be easy enough.
“I can do it,” Boyd objected. He wanted to greet his tiny inventor.
“You could, but I have my reasons and she will be thankful it is me, if I am right,” Raev explained and tapped him on his nose. “Finish up breakfast, I’ll be right back.”
Boyd assumed Raev was concerned that Tinker may not be looking her best first thing in the morning, so let it go. He might not care, but her self-esteem was still fragile, so protecting it seemed like a good idea.
“Okay, we have some time. The casseroles still have a few minutes more to bake and will need to cool.”
“I’ll get her back shortly,” Raev said with a smile, pulling herself up for another quick kiss. She dropped back down and brushed his chest with her soft tails as she turned to head to Tinker’s lab.
Laura was standing off to the side, smirking with an expression Boyd could not otherwise identify. “How’s the clinic?” he asked as he turned to check the casseroles. He found them done, with two minutes still to go on the timer. These ovens must need calibration, otherwise the new dishes would require either lower temperatures or shorter cooking times.
“Oh, it’s quite nice,” she replied warmly. “Has that new equipment smell and… Hey! Watch it!” she shouted the last in shock.
Boyd had reached into the oven to pull out the casserole dishes and move them to a cooling rack but stopped to blink at her, the first hot dish already in hand.
“What's wrong?” he asked, confused, but also oddly calm given the panic in the nurse’s voice.
“Oh.” She sighed, putting one hand over her chest and letting out a soft laugh. “Sorry, I forgot you can grab things from the oven without giving yourself second or third-degree burns.”
Boyd chuckled and went back to pulling the remaining six dishes from his large new oven. “Sorry for the fright.” He used a fork to check to make sure the eggs were nice and fluffy, and the potatoes were soft. He judged it to be satisfactory.
Steam billowed off of the casseroles. “These need to cool,” he announced to the room. “Daisy, please put out some things to snack on for any that can’t wait.”
“I’d normally try to be patient but those really do smell very good. You have my stomach complaining about having to wait.” Laura laughed and moved to grab a plate and a cup of coffee.
Daisy had taken to pouring the coffee and seemed to be discussing something with Mindy as the taller woman sipped at a cup.
Boyd smiled at the scene—people happily chatting as they waited for breakfast, unconcerned with the fact that they’d all sided against The Authority itself. He hadn’t needed to ask to confirm Laura’s involvement; she was listed on Davis’s chart near his name. The nurse frequently traveled for medical conferences and gathered information using sources she contacted there. She was an exceptionally qualified nurse and spy… quite the combo.
He discarded the thought for the time being, choosing to enjoy a peaceful breakfast.
Chapter 39
Everyone ate together, successfully breaking any lines between the Heroes and their support staff. That was something Boyd wanted to squash before it even became a thing on his team, especially given what they would be facing together. They all had to work with one purpose.
They stayed away from any heavy topics, mostly sticking to features of the base that they liked most so far. Mindy, Silvie, and Raev were most excited about the massive bath. Tinker, of course, was most excited about her lab.
Laura surprised Boyd by saying the gym, although she commented that maybe that was simply because she hadn’t seen the bath yet, given the others’ replied. Daisy seemed thrilled to have her own room and he learned for the first time that she’d shared a bedroom with Connor for several years.
Boyd hadn’t seen the gym yet, so he said he liked the design of The Great Room. When pressed for what he liked about it, he’d said how it was obviously meant to create a sense of community. Silvie seemed pleased with his answer.
After breakfast, for which he was heavily complimented by all parties, the group split up to handle their various tasks. Laura still had a lot of work to do in her clinic. Everything required a calibration or maintenance cycle to make sure it was ready, if needed. Tinker went off to finish the equipment Boyd and Raev had requested for their hunt in the Wild Lands. Daisy stayed in the kitchen to finish cleaning up and to begin practicing her cooking skills.
Boyd, Mindy, Raev, and Silvie went to his office for a pre-mission briefing. They spent an hour going over the maps they had of their valley. The mountain range they were in included massive peaks, their tops capped by snow year-round. Their valley was deep, with somewhat of a ‘V’ shape, the result of a three peak chain set in a rough triangle.
The base of the valley was set into the eastern and largest peak. Two other peaks were set to the northwest and southwest of the base. The largest of these mountains dropped into cliffs with a series of snowmelt waterfalls along the entire easter wall of the valley. These pools fed into several streams, which led to a lovely looking lake. At the open end of the valley, a river carried overflow from the lake west out of the valley.
The mouth of the valley was narrow with cliffs to either side, the swiftly flowing river in the center. It didn’t allow larger creatures to enter easily. There were plenty of dangerous smaller creatures, though, and they’d confirmed the presence of both A-ranked and S-ranked threats. Fortunately, these were low in number. Their guards were tracking them, and so far, they hadn't reacted to their presence or the base's construction, even the surface elements.
The guards had also been kind enough to mark the location of Boyd’s first target—a Crevice Boar. Crevice Boars were A-Ranked creatures known for their propensity to ram into cliff faces to form crevices in which they made their homes. They preferred the open air and refused to use caves for whatever reason. Their strength and resilience were both A-ranked, and they had B-ranked speed in a charge.
Normally, Boyd would have preferred to tackle the threat with three A-Ranked heroes, but they had a solid plan that Boyd agreed mitigated most of the risk. Crevice Boars didn’t have energy bases resistance, so Boyd didn’t have an advantage with his Black Flame, though he was strong enough to pierce its tough hide.
They’d planned a quick trip out, running along a forested ridge that should be free of major threats. From there, they would drop down into the clearing in front of the boar’s crevice. Raev would then draw it out with an illusion—she was confident she had one that would work. Finally, Boyd would launch himself at the beast, attacking from ambush with the spear Tinker was making him.
