Wilderness Hannah, page 21
part #3 of Damsel Series
He’d looked the same and for some reason, Hannah didn’t think Lash looked her age at all. That could well have happened a very long time before, in fact. Hundreds of years, possibly.
It was clear to her that Kate, Pleny and Carl weren’t running magic constantly. That felt different. Though she didn’t know if she could tell the difference between genetic tampering and alien stuff. Red Cape was an actual alien, after all, and he felt fine to her. Almost normal, really.
Debbie was clearly dipped in magic. That had always been there, even though Hannah hadn’t really been aware of it. She rang, nearly like a bell, for some reason. Constantly, but it was a good thing. One that seemed right for her.
She thought that Veronica had always just been honest with her. Diaspora always claimed that she was an alien, from a race of beneficent warriors, come to aid humanity. A lie, but better than being an escaped rape slave, if people needed to know about you.
Especially if it didn’t really matter to the world.
It wasn’t their business, so if Vidya Pond wanted to be an alien, Hannah would back her in it. Even if it wasn’t strictly matching with reality all the time.
“Right, so what now? I’m... Kind of out of my depth here, when it comes to a manhunt.”
Interestingly, everyone turned to look at Luther then.
“I’m not. I hate doing teleporters. I’ll try tracing her through her workplace and home here, just in case she doubles back. She sounds smart, but wounded animals go to a safe spot. That’s natural. Stupid, too. Always run and hide in an unfamiliar place. At least one that your enemies don’t know you have any connection to. Most people are found in their own places, when you look for them. The rest are found at a friend or family member’s house. I can’t do much if she went to a real safe house overseas. Damsel, you’ll try to find her, at the same time and give us a location?”
She nodded, not having even thought about that, yet.
“I’m on that, as soon as I can find a place to work.”
That, of course, was provided by Wisp, still without her mask, taking her home. To Hannah’s apartment.
Megan was there, with her son, on the sofa, as Kate Sinclair blinked in, dropped Hannah and left. The woman nodded.
“So... That was different, wasn’t it? Kate Sinclair is...”
Hannah shook her head.
“A talented reality star who has nothing to do with any of this? That’s exactly right. Nice of you to notice that.” She grinned, but they got it. Even the kid did.
Chapter fourteen
Megan Kant was, very obviously, both trying to be a good house guest and was terrible at it, at the same time. Reese was a kid, and wasn’t an asshole, so kept asking her if it was all right to use things or to watch television. That wasn’t trying to clean her apartment though, like his mother was busily doing. Even if it was perfectly clean. They had maid service and the poor woman was rather desperately attempting to prove something in doing that.
It wasn’t that she was a neat freak, either.
When the woman tried to clean her VR room, Hannah physically stood in her way. With her hands firmly on her hips.
“Sorry, Megan. That’s a secret. You can’t go and poke around in there.” She mock glared and crossed her arms. “But Reese can. Come on. We’ll ditch your mom and play video games. It will be fun.”
Hannah, being well prepared, didn’t have just one machine for that kind of thing, she had four of them. Also different head sets and controllers, though she only had one pair of her favorite kind. That meant letting the boy use one of the controller sets she didn’t like as much. It was selfish of her, but the guy didn’t understand that, and was just happy to have something to do.
It took her literally twice as long to get a good practice session in for shooting, since she went over how to hold things, stances and aiming with her new little pal. Then had to cover how to move in the various games, using cover and concealment.
They were in the same game, standing in different parts of the room so they wouldn’t run into each other, but didn’t have to use the mics to be heard and understood. That wasn’t the first time she’d done that, but it was pretty close.
No-one wanted to play with her, for some reason. Not because she was so good or bad, either. Just because everyone else she knew in real life considered playing games like that to be either useless or, if they got the training uses of it, didn’t come over to her house for that sort of thing.
“We’re going up against bots, which means that they can see through walls, in most of these games. On the other hand, going up against people means that they’ll actually move when their buddy gets shot, instead of just trying to kill you, like these do. That makes them more fun to shoot at, but also means that simply hiding won’t save you right now. Think of it as going up against mildly psychic people? In the game we’re in, they can spawn behind you, too, randomly. That’s a bit like teleportation, so scan the world, constantly. Still use the walls to hide, since in real life that’s always valuable.”
She wasn’t there to score points, after all.
Getting the kid not to die was a problem, since he kept wanting to run out into the open, and when he finally didn’t do that, his aim wasn’t great. She found a firing range program, loaded that and just worked with him that way for hours. Then, even with a mom in the house, she got several firearms out and showed him how they worked, in real life.
“There are differences in the muscle memory, using different weapons. Obviously, never point a weapon at a person unless you need to for self-defense. If you don’t have powers, try not to get sucked into this stupid superhero stuff. If you can’t help it, then do what I do and keep to a low profile. Basically, if you ever need a gun, you shouldn’t involve yourself in most of that world.”
Reese laughed then.
“I get that one. Still, this is different. So, you really taught me how to shoot? Is that even possible? I mean, it’s a game, right?”
She nodded.
“Both. You can learn certain things this way. How to stand and move, how not to get shot, tracking moving targets and working on headshots under pressure. Really, this teaches you to shoot, without a lot of moral backlash. Most people hesitate, freak out and don’t aim under pressure and things like that. If you’ve killed ten thousand realistic seeming armed men, or had that many zombies coming at you at a full run, you won’t actually have a problem that way.” She sighed and shook her head, the boy looking at the forty-four as she went over the basics with him.
Except really shooting.
“Real weapons kick. There are some controller attachments that mimic that a bit, but I haven’t been using them yet. If you hold the gun the way I showed you, most things won’t have the kick that the game puts in. That means it’s easier to aim in real life. Now, all of this means only so much, in our world. At your age...” She frowned at him. “Wait, how old are you?”
The kid looked at her then, clearly considering telling a lie, then didn’t. At least she assumed that was the case.
“Fifteen.” He didn’t add in any modifiers, such as, and a half. That probably meant he’d worked out that only little kids did that, and that six months wasn’t going to be enough for him to get into her pants. Especially with his mother stewing in the other room.
She didn’t mention that she’d figured a bit less than that. He looked so young to her.
“They won’t let you legally carry, so the best you can do is learn and practice as best you can, in case that kind of thing comes up. VR is a great practice tool, but it has its limits right now. Give the technology twenty years and you won’t know that it isn’t real, once you’re inside. That’s the dream anyway.”
She went over the clumsy and basic bladework program she had, which was a more gamified thing, which meant that they were using shields and fighting orcs when his dad came back in, along with Nate. That one, clearly, didn’t leave anyone feeling comfortable. He was, pretty clearly, Solar Storm, after all.
Not that he had his old uniform on. Now he was dressed up as Mr. Sparkles.
She grinned at their uneasy expressions.
“This is Nate. Mr. Sparkles in public. Oh, crud, we also need to get with Alistair and set up a link for both of you.” She looked at the uneasy, but cute, in an average late thirties fashion, soccer mom, and her kid. Both clearly hadn’t been told about that.
As they shouldn’t have been.
“We work with a telepath. Al. He’s a great guy and won’t rat out your secrets, which, to be clear, he already knows. I mean, he won’t tell anyone about the murders you’ve done or affairs you’ve had, or that you’re secretly a super villain, so, you understand, he honestly doesn’t care about your sexual perversions, which to him won’t even be that bad.” She winked then, since one of them was blushing and it wasn’t Reese.
Superion X, Christopher Kant, gave a rather reassuring smile to his family.
“That’s a good point. What he will do is allow us to pass messages, at a distance. In emergencies, of course. He’s a real person, with a real life, so we shouldn’t abuse his gift, but if something like...” He tightened then, fighting back rage from his face. “Like what happened to you both, earlier. You’ll be able to get in touch with me, or even other people. If he’ll add you both to the network that way. I don’t know if that’s...”
Hannah shrugged. She figured Al wasn’t going to be a prick about that kind of thing. He had rules, and to some that made him seem a bit like he was being difficult, but that wasn’t his actual point.
“We can ask? The trick here is that you have to agree to let him speak inside your heads. If you’re good with that, you’ll be able to get in touch with him just by thinking about him.” She grinned. “Which yeah, means that doing that casually, alerts him as well. We all try not to do that too much, since that has to be distracting.”
Reese shrugged.
“Sure? Do we have to become blood brothers or something for this to work?”
Megan made a face, then looked at her husband.
“I’m not wild about the idea of people being in my head. I also don’t want to be tortured again. That was... Really, the worst thing I’ve ever felt. I’m not certain how I’m not curled into a ball, crying, right now. I feel numb inside. So, I guess? Sure. Do we have to go and meet him or... We’re in hiding, so, can he come here?”
~I could, of course, but just having permission works. Nice to meet you. I’m Al, the voice in your head. This way, you won’t have to ask if you’re going crazy, for the first six months. You already know I’m real.~
Reese spoke out loud, which Hannah normally did as well. Alistair could hear that, and it wasn’t projected, like being in a trance would be, or nearly as annoying as mentally chanting his name probably was.
“Hi! Um, I’m Reese. Cool to meet you, too. I’ve never met a telepath before. Not that I know about, I mean.”
~Actually, we met earlier? I was in the basement at Lash and Debbie’s? The kid everyone kept asking about telepathic things?~
It was clear they could all hear him, at that moment. Which was handy, since it was like having a conversation, instead of being the crazy loner who heard voices.
Nate looked around, then at the clock, across the room.
“We should eat soon. What would everyone like?”
Reese piped up first, his voice nearly eager. Not like a dead person at all. Which he wasn’t. Now.
“Pizza? Pepperoni with extra cheese, if I get a choice.”
Nate chuckled.
“Right. I can do the extra cheese, but if this is a safe house, we can’t risk takeout, so, I think you get a choice of ham or artichoke hearts?”
The kid didn’t act that picky, at least.
“Both? Mom doesn’t really eat meat, so, that green stuff for her. Ham is fine with me, really.”
Nate nodded.
“Got it. We need to keep busy. Ma’am, how about you search for news that might be important, while Reese, Hannah and myself head to the kitchen to get that going. You...” He waved at the very famous superhero, who was standing there in his costume. Then, so was Nate. “Can you get some clothes and things, from your place, without being seen? We’ll need to move you all every day or so. This will be the main base, but just in case you two are being personally targeted, we’ll shuffle you around.”
Megan nodded, as if doing research wasn’t that impossible in her world.
“I can use the computer?”
Hannah nodded.
“Do it. Just pretend to be me, online. Or, more to the point, don’t do anything that will leave a trace. Don’t buy anything, or call any relatives or friends. Not that I’m an expert at not being found, but I’ve had a little practice.” Avoiding the press, mainly. Which got her to grimace. “Also, teleport in and out, if it becomes needed. There are almost certainly paparazzi waiting for me, downstairs. Red Cape here comes in fast enough to not be seen, but Mr. Sparkles puts on a show for the whole world when he does it. Not...”
Hannah looked around and then shook her head for a bit.
“Really, no-one will be after you now. Sendra and whoever she’s working with know that going for you won’t really stick. They might even be questioning if what happened was real or not, at this point. So, all of this is more about keeping the rest of us happy, at a bet. We should probably hold to normalcy for both of you as much as possible, given that. You know, go to school and work. We’ll put someone on to guarding you for a while?” She glanced at all of them, and then Nate.
“Al can keep an ear out and we’ll see if Wisp can stand by, when they’re out doing things? They can stay here, since Reese is learning to protect himself. I started on handgun, rifle and bladed weapons. In VR, so far. Nate, you can do unarmed? We can get Al in for that, too.” That wasn’t exactly Green Beret training, but socking Sendra in the jaw might well have made a difference, earlier.
She hadn’t asked the parents if Reese was allowed to do that, but was willing to go behind their backs on the topic, if it was needed. Really, she expected both of them to have a problem with the whole idea, so she went on.
“Clearly, Reese can’t walk around armed. Not right now. Agism, but there you have it. That means being ready to run, hide and only fight as a last measure, for now. I can do the running and funny walking parts, I think. You too, Megan? We need someone really good at hiding, for that. My skill there ends in ducking behind things. Disguise, too. Let me ask around on that?”
Rather than act like she was being silly, Christopher stood a bit straighter.
“Thank you. Both of you. That would be a good idea. I probably should have insisted on that for both of them, before, but... I thought I could protect them.” The sense of failure was written all over his face.
Hannah felt it, almost as a blow.
“That can’t work. Not forever. Everyone has to stand on their own, in the end. Let me see about... Pizza, first, was it? We get time here, after all. Come on Reese. Let’s let the parents talk about how pushy and heavy handed I’m being. We can talk about other things.... You like porn, right?”
The younger guy walked with them then, nodding, seriously.
“Duh. Porn is the best.”
She shook her head, just as they got into the kitchen.
“Not even close. Still, you know the rules, don’t get too advanced too soon, and remember, everything you see online that way is fake. Now that we’ve squicked the parents out, Nate will actually cover making pizza for us. I have no clue on that one.”
They made the crust from scratch, and cooked the artichokes before baking. Those came from a can, so needed to be drained and then dried with paper towels before using. The tomato sauce had an armored tin shell too, though spices were added, from the rather impressive selection Nate had put in. It was her kitchen, but she honestly didn’t know what was in there now.
She was able to follow directions though, and help with the pizza crust dough, which was made with yeast. She would not have guessed that, thinking it was more like a biscuit or cracker.
They worked, with Reese trying hard not to act bored, or get too antsy. Finally, as they had the three large pizzas in the oven, on separate racks, he looked at the kitchen door and whispered.
“I’m... Not really doing well, here. I keep seeing that woman, coming at me with a knife. She, that one woman, earlier, Wisp? That was her.”
Nate tensed, and Hannah simply agreed.
“Her twin sister. Clones, really, but close enough. Kate is younger looking and a good guy. Also, Wisp is a man. So, you know, don’t be phobic that way. Misgendering is wrong.” She meant it, but the boy managed a grin.
“Yeah. Got it. So is blaming an innocent person. I’m still going to shake when I see her, I bet. Kate? Still, I’m barely hanging on here. I don’t want to be weak, but...”
Nate patted him on the back. It was a hearty thing.
“You aren’t being weak. Even when you cry later, it isn’t that. Strength doesn’t mean you can’t be human. In a situation like this, it just means not giving up.”
He nodded.
“I screamed, as she cut me. That... I begged.” He spoke as if that was a shameful thing, trying to get an evil person to stop hurting him.
Hannah had done her share of that kind of thing herself.
“That never works. Not with the people willing to do things that they need to be begged not to. So, learning to run, escape, hide and fight. Things that I need to do more of. I’ve hit a few of them, but now that I think about it, there are gaps in what I know how to really do. I mean, I don’t really know any escape techniques or tricks.” Ropes or handcuffs would pretty much beat her, at that moment.
So could duct tape.
It had come up in her life before, too. So it wasn’t as if worrying over that was a minor point.
They waited, chatting about things like that for a while. Nate actually had more knowledge that way, though, as he pointed out, being able to burn or melt almost anything that was used to restrain him meant that lock picking wasn’t a skill he’d ever really bothered learning.
