Chapter 23: Unexpected Parting

The rooftop proved to be a new kind of tension. Dozens of hellhounds surrounded the building over the next hour. All the activity brought more faceless to the vicinity, but fortunately the monsters lacked the ability to communicate at a high level. The faceless could probably figure out how to scale the walls to get up to the survivors, but they didn’t know where the prey were, only that the hellhounds were hunting something in the vicinity. Spencer could hear four of the faceless monstrosities wrecking the stores directly under them. As long as the humans and engies stayed quiet and stayed down eventually the monsters would wander off.

At least, that’s what Chris claimed had worked for his family up until this point.

“I woke up late.” Chris whispered as he and Spencer looked out at the pillar dominating the early evening skyline to their south west.

The colossal monster that clashed with the military had vanished at some point. It wasn’t clear if it had wandered all the way back to the pillar or what. Still, Spencer could breathe a little easier up here without that monstrosity around.

“My mom was mid lecture pulling around the street corner over there when the pillar showed up. Then…”

Chris shook his head. His matted black hair swayed gently as he sighed. His clothes had sweat stains and dirt caked in around his back. A few days on a rooftop had obviously been rough on everyone up here.

“I mean you saw it too, right? Just everything falling apart all around you?”

Spencer nodded and responded equally quietly. “I was on the bus when the pods hit. The streets were a mess. I barely made it back home. Steven didn’t make it.”

Chris sucked in a breath. He didn’t spend as much time around the younger guy compared to Spencer, but Chris still knew him personally and Spencer could see the news hit him hard. 

“Shit. That’s… I’m sorry to hear that dude.”

“Yeah.” It was all Spencer could think to say about Steven. The loss was still too fresh. “I’m sorry about your uncle. Felix was a good guy. I should have been here sooner.”

“Yeah…” Chris flinched and wiped his own eyes. “That’s not on you, dude. I mean we would have all died if not for you.”

Both of them turned to look at the large tarp tied between a pair of industrial air conditioning units in the center of the rooftop. Chris’ parents and younger sister sat close together with his grieving aunt. The younger sister, Penelope, was nursing an injured leg. Either a sprain or a fracture. The poor girl was obviously in a lot of physical pain, but no one could do anything to alleviate that at this point. Chris sighed heavily. 

“We should have been more careful when we went down for supplies. If you hadn’t shown up with…”

Spencer watched his friend look between the trio of engies positioned in a triangle around the human survivors. All of Spencer’s team held their weapons loosely as they watched the roof’s edge.

“Who are these people, Spencer?” Chris covertly pointed at Sarah behind the palm of his other hand. “Because she looks exactly like Sarah from Zero Conflict.”

He then turned and nodded to Naomi. “And she looks exactly like Naomi.”

Spencer grinned and jerked his head towards the last member of his team.

“You don’t recognize Beatrice?”

Chris scowled at him. “Of course I recognize Beatrice, she’s in desperate need of a rework to reach the A rank she deserves. My point is, who are these cosplayers and why are they so insanely strong?”

“They’re not… cosplayers.” Spencer rubbed his chin. “I don’t suppose you’ve run into anyone who’s claimed to be a champion yet?”

“Champions? No. Is that a high school south of us or something? And what do you mean not cosplayers?” Chris demanded. “I bought three Naomi dolls just so I could have her in each of her poses above my desk. If she was a real person don’t you think I would have already gone to prison for being a creepy stalker who goes too far in the name of love? It physically hurts me to say this, Spencer, but I do honestly know Zero Conflict is a video game.”

Having heard her name, Naomi glanced over to Spencer and Chris. Her guarded eyes surveyed Spencer with a complex emotion he couldn’t identify. She took one look at Chris, rolled her eyes, scoffed, and turned away.

“Oh shit that might actually be her.” Chris breathed out and leaned closer to Spencer. “What the fuck?”

The response was everything he’d come to expect from his best friend. Spencer laughed. A genuine and deep laugh while still being mindful to do so quietly. So much baggage and tension rolled right off of Spencer’s shoulders from the simple act. He could feel all three engies turn their eyes in his direction.

******

A pleasant warmth filled Sarah’s soul at the gentle sound of her commander’s merriment. The weight of his friend’s potential death had been visible on Spencer’s shoulders the whole time Sarah had known him. To see him finally fulfill his dream of rescuing someone in need made all of the fighting Sarah had done over the past few days worth it.

You’re destined for great things, commander. Sarah thought to herself and turned her attention back towards the roof’s edge, ever diligent in her duties.

******

Beatrice felt her heart flutter delightfully at the sound of Spencer’s laughter. Beatrice had helped to make this possible. She had held back numerous foes while the commander stayed safe.

For as long as you need me, I’ll be by your side, commander. Beatrice promised and returned to her watch.

******

Naomi bit her lower lip and watched Spencer laugh together with the other young man she assumed to be an important person to the commander. Her drone buzzed quietly beside her head as she surveyed the scene.

He’s not my commander… Naomi tried to force the title away from her mind, but failed to do so. In any case, it’s not unpleasant to see him actually happy. It’s a good thing I was around. He would have been in trouble without me.

Naomi sniffed and looked away from the scene.

That Chris fellow has lustful eyes. I’ll need to stay close to Spencer… Naomi blushed at the thought and tried to rationalize it away in her own mind. J-Just to protect him from bad influences. Not that I want to be close to him…

******

“So how many people were selected to be a champion?” Chris asked after Spencer gave him a brief rundown of everything he’d been through thus far.

Spencer shrugged. “I’m not sure. A lot, but not everyone. I think most people remained normal without powers.”

Chris nodded and glanced at the back of Naomi’s head. “So… can normal people become champions?”

“I don’t know. Not that I’ve heard, but then again I haven’t talked to many people since everything started.” Spencer answered honestly.

It didn’t seem likely that something like this would be given to people after the initialization of the end of times, but then again Spencer wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

Chris’ father rose to a crouch and walked over to the pair of them. He clapped Spencer softly on the shoulder and gave him a firm side hug. The atmosphere would be joyous if not for the somber events from earlier. The sting of loss mixed with the elation of reunion made for an odd bundle of wide smiles and sad eyes.

“It’s good to see you, Spencer.” The man had a slight accent that was reminiscent of Spencer’s own parents.

“You too, Mr. Gwan.” Spencer smiled back.

“Come on, you can call me Peter. I’m not that old.” Mr. Gwan chuckled and sat next to them. “Have you heard from your parents? They were in Tokyo this past week, yes?”

Spencer felt his face fall at the inevitable question.

“No.” He pulled his knees up to his chest. “Cell towers have been down almost since hour one of all of this. I have no idea if they’re okay.”

Peter’s eyes tightened. It was clear Mr. Gwan didnn’t know what else to do so he patted Spencer on the shoulder again.

“I’ve known Johnny and Nihla for a long time. They are very smart people. No matter what’s happened I’m sure they'll be fine.” Peter assured him.

“How’s Penny doing?” Spencer deftly changed the subject by asking after Chris’ younger sister.

Peter and Chris grimaced.

“Not as well as I’d like.” Peter admitted. “She probably needs a doctor to take a look at her leg.”

Before Spencer could respond a rush of wind blew past the rooftop. Sarah was up in an instant with her sword in hand. Beatrice slammed into Spencer’s side and spun her hover shield around to face the ladder down to the ground floor. Naomi blinked, surprised by her fellow engie’s responses but activated her drone without verbal questions. The drone settled onto her shoulders and unfolded into the twin blasters Spencer was familiar with.

“What-”

Spencer’s question answered itself as a new voice whispered quietly across the open rooftop.

“You sure did make a lot of noise, champ. It took a while before I had an opportunity to get up here.” Jamie grinned and lowered the volume on her music bumping out of her headphones.

The speedster had appeared a few feet away from Spencer and Chris. Jamie still sported the same outfit as before; grey wind breaker and rainbow athletic pants. Each article had a lot more rips than Spencer remembered. A worrying development given it had only been a day since they last saw each other. Chris and his family paled and pulled back, ready for another attack from the way the engies were reacting. Sarah, Beatrice, and for some reason Naomi all turned slightly to give Spencer an aggressive side eye.

Right, not on a first name basis. Spencer remembered what happened the last time he acted familiar with Jamie.

“It is adequate to see you in one piece.” Spencer chose his words carefully. “My friends here need a way out of the pillar’s perimeter. Can you help?”

Rather than be offended by the very stiff reception, Jamie seemed encouraged by it.

“Oh wow. Of course, Spencer,” She winked playfully, “Anything for you.”

Naomi leaned close to Beatrice and whispered just loud enough for Spencer to hear her.

“Who’s the skank?”

Beatrice wrote out hastily on her whiteboard. “The commander’s affair partner.”

Spencer choked. “What do you mean? We only met once and all we did was talk!”

“She sexually approached the commander with her gaze and he didn’t deny her.” Sarah joined in with a scowl.

Spencer pulled all three of them away from Jamie with a fierce flush. Jamie’s smile widened considerably at the sight of the possessive engies and an embarrassed Spencer.

“Stop it.” He ordered quietly. “That person is the key to getting my best friend and his family to safety. I won’t even use her name. You’re all more important to me than she is, but please don’t drive her off before she can help.”

All three made some dismissive noise or gesture before sitting reluctantly with their weapons sheathed. Beatrice began making an extremely well detailed breakdown of how to tie someone up. Naomi gave quiet feedback on parts of the diagram while Sarah watched Spencer with arms folded tightly across her ample bust.

“Can you really help us get out of here?” Peter asked Jamie with creeping hope in his voice.

The rest of his family leaned forward with equal interest in the stranger.

“That’s what I’ve been doing the last thirty-six hours.” Jamie grinned and unslung her backpack to the ground with a heavy thump.

On top of a dirty pile of clothing lay a military radio. Jamie disconnected her headphones from her phone and connected it to the radio.

“Thirty-six hours straight?” Chris asked quietly.

Spencer felt his lips press into a thin line. It wasn’t clear how Jamie’s powers worked. It was clear she drew strength or her abilities were tied to the type of music she was listening to, but even though she was faster and had far more stamina than any human possible Spencer could tell the girl was tired. The second her headphones stopped playing music Jamie’s shoulders slumped with exhaustion. Nevertheless, Jamie squeezed the transmit button and made the call.

“Mother hen, mother hen, this is peregrine one, over.” Jamie paused briefly and released the transmit button. “How many do you want out?”

She asked Spencer directly, her tone a lot less playful now as feedback could be faintly heard in her headphones.

“The five of them.” Spencer pointed to Chris and his family. “The youngest has a broken leg.”

Chris and his father turned abruptly towards Spencer.

“Only five?” Chris lifted himself up in alarm.

Peter put a hand on Spencer’s arm. “Spencer, you have to come with us. You’re parents would want-”

“Yes.” Jamie transmitted. “Five civilians. One injured.”

Her brown eyes met Spencer’s gaze as whoever was on the other side asked a question.

“Not this time. No enhanced on site, over.”

The voice said something to Jamie that made her grimace before making a final transmission.

“Sounds good. Pickup in ten. Peregrine one continuing sweep. Over and out.”

With that Jamie tossed the radio into her bag and quickly reconnected back to her music. The relief was like a visible wave from her ears down to her feet. Jamie’s limbs bounced to life in time to the hard beat audible from the high quality headphones.

“You’ve been asked to report champions you find?” Spencer surmised.

Sarah, Naomi, and Beatrice shifted forward slightly at the observation. To her credit, Jamie didn’t deny it.

“Like I said the day before,” Jamie stood and stretched her legs out stiffly, “There are a lot of crazies out there.”

She reached down and retrieved a road flare from a side pocket and handed it to Peter.

“When you hear the helicopter pull the cord on the bottom and drop it on the roof in front of you.” Jamie glanced at the rooftop around them. “Not enough space to land, so you’ll probably be lifted up one at a time. Don’t worry. The colonel and his men are very efficient.”

There was a tightness in Jamie’s voice when she mentioned this colonel.

“Helicopter?” Spencer lifted an eyebrow. “How are they going to make it through the balloon things?”

He pointed up at the orange haze that had become a constant presence in the skies around the pillar.

“They’ll only go after anything over a certain altitude.” Jamie slid her backpack on and adjusted the straps. “The helicopter will be low. Very low. I’d recommend not looking out the windows once you’re inside. Seeing telephone poles rush past the window is… unsettling.”

“Why aren’t you coming with us?” Chris glanced between the champions in front of him with a frown. “If it’s a person limit, surely they can come back and pick up anyone left behind.”

Spencer shook his head. “It’s not that.”

“Champions, like your cute friend here,” Spencer’s collar was yanked back roughly by Sarah, but Jamie continued like she didn’t notice, “are experiencing some worrying things back in the world outside of the pillar’s sphere of influence. Spencer will probably be safer hiding out in here with his… companions.”

Jamie winked at the engies and the trio growled in response. Well, except for Beatrice, the mute girl ground her teeth uncomfortably loud.

“Are you still fine out there?” Spencer leaned around Sarah’s protective posture to ask the speedster. “I know you mentioned your brother is a higher ranking military guy, but who’s this colonel you mentioned?”

Jamie’s smile faltered slightly.

“Colonel Anderson is… efficient.” She shot a hasty look of reassurance to Chris and his family. “He will protect you all and do everything in his power to get you to safety. He’s just…”

Jamie mulled over her words briefly before finishing her thought.

“Interested in champions. Very interested. I try to avoid him when I can, so it would be best if Spencer and his group left before the helicopter arrives.” Jamie adjusted the song she was listening to and pointed north past the gas station. “I’m going to make some noise over that way. Hopefully that should clear out anything left underneath you guys.”

She met Spencer’s gaze with a warm smile. “See you around, champ.”

Warm air rushed around them and Jamie was gone. Chris ran a tired hand through his hair.

“You’re really not coming with us?”

Spencer stepped around Sarah, who was much more relaxed now that Jamie had gone, and pulled Chris into a brief hug.

“It’s not forever, dude. I’ll get things figured out.”

Chris blinked back some moisture threatening the edges of his eyes and cleared his throat loudly.

“Right. Well.” He glanced over Spencer’s shoulder at Naomi.

The business suit wearing engie narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him which caused Chris to chuckle.

“Hey, about Naomi.” He said in a much quieter tone. “If she’s really the same person from the game, then there are some things about her past you should probably know.”

Spencer held up a hand to stop Chris from continuing.

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but anything I learn I want to hear it from her directly. I don’t think she’s the type of person who would appreciate people discussing her past without her approval.”.

It felt like the best option considering his promise to his team to be open and honest with them. Any secrets, baggage, or personal information shared by engies on his team would be earned through their bond. As tempting as a shortcut would be, Spencer wanted to try and do this the right way.

Chris nodded and actually looked impressed. “You know what, that’s exactly the type of attitude she responds well to. God I want to punch you in your perfect teeth for being so cool in front of my favorite character.”

To the north, a loud bang echoed down the street as a lengthy strip of firecrackers exploded. Barks, chirps, and screeches sounded below as the remaining hellhounds in and around the strip mall took off towards the sounds. After the initial wave, a pair of faceless barreled out of the shops directly and followed the hellhounds also letting their echoey roars reverberate down the open streets.

“That’s our cue.” Spencer hastily assembled his gear.

His team did the same. Sarah unsheathed her blade and leapt down to the pavement near the base of the ladder to secure the area while the rest of them climbed down. Naomi went second and Beatrice stayed expectantly by Spencer’s side.

“I can’t say I understand everything that’s going on,” Peter pulled Spencer for a hug of his own, “but take care. Whenever things get better, come find us. You always have a place with us.”

The words hit unexpectedly hard. The past couple of days he’d had so much to worry about it had been easy to bury the pain and fear of his parents being missing under so many other things. Being here and hearing uncle Gwan say something like that while giving him a hug punched a hole straight through those distractions. Spencer let the hug last a bit longer than he originally planned. Beatrice’s hand gently grabbed the hem of Spencer’s shirt. It wasn’t a forceful gesture, just a simple one to remind him of their need to leave.

“Thanks, uncle.” Spencer thumped his back and stepped away. “Stay safe.”

“I have so many questions.” Chris reached out and tapped knuckles with Spencer.

Spencer nodded. “Next time for sure.”

The Gwan family collectively wished Spencer luck and he departed down the ladder. Spencer could feel Chris’ gaze on them until they were out of sight to the west, towards the last remaining pillar of light.